Integrated system, device and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention describes a novel integrated data-system, a personal device for the system, and methods for operating the system. The invention produces means and technology for providing quantitative information about products. A key function of the system is to provide information about product-based emissions, such as carbon dioxide emissions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention describes a novel integrated data-system, a personaldevice for the system, and methods for operating the system. Theinvention produces means and technology for providing quantitativeinformation about products. A key function of the system is to provideinformation about product-based emissions, such as carbon dioxideemissions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Greenhouse Effect as a Major TechnicalEnvironmental Problem

Greenhouse effect (GHE) is the major global threat to the future ofmankind. Warming climate causes e.g. changing weather conditionsincluding increasing number of the strongest storms such as hurricanes,drought, floods and rising sea level. The severity of problems caused bythe greenhouse effect may vary time to time depending on location, butlocal conditions, such as hurricane Katrina in autumn 2005 bringing thesea to New Orleans, have major impact on the global economy and welfareof all people.

GHE is technical problem caused by increase of greenhouse gasses in theatmosphere. Key greenhouse gasses (GHG) include e.g. carbon dioxide,CO₂, and methane. It is known, that stopping the increase of thesegasses in the atmosphere would prevent the problem from escalating.However, so far the measures for preventing the greenhouse effect havenot been successful, as not all countries have taken measures againstit. Newly industrializing countries may consider that their industriescannot carry the costs of reducing the emission and the increasing costof production of goods for rich western economies. On the other hand theconsumers using the goods should carry the cost of the specificconsumption and may be more able to do that than the industries underhard competition. Currently the European efforts in reducing theGHG-emissions on industry level has partially lead to movement ofindustries to developing countries outside of Kyoto-protocol regions andeven increase of emissions due to e.g. increased transport.

Currently there is no system that would give 1) exact and comparableinformation about the product level GHG-emission of numerous products toconsumer and 2) display it in an easily understandable form and 3) alloweffective personal level trading of green house gas emissions. Withoutthese means the individual persons would not be able to control theirshare of the problem, and would not be able to effectively supportsustainable production. The frustrated consumers may close their eyesfor the difficult problem, or radically stop consumption of alsoproducts, which have not real effect on GHE or even developed includinglow or no emission, leading to non-effective reduction of GHG, economicrecession and even decrease ability cope with the problem.

It is further realized that many people would be interested in gettinguseful information about product associated emission, especiallyGHG-emission beside possibly managing and controlling personalGHG-emissions. Families and house holds would also be interested inlearning and educating each other about their consumption and possiblevoluntary system a) for allocation of the emission burden between familymembers and interfamily/household exchange of excess Daily Allowanceunits (novel demonstrative unit for acceptable emission levels) or b)for combined management of the GHG-emission of whole group. ThePECD-device and PED-database provide useful new information devicesgiving new views on everyday products and services.

Novel Integrated Personal Emission Control System (IPECS)

The present invention represents a technical solution of the problem ofemission, preferably GHE and similar problem related to indirect effectsof products. The Integrated Personal Emission Control System (IPECS)includes devices and methods for 1) allocating the costs of GHE toindividual products and 2) delivering information of the costs allowingthe consumers to select products with low emissions and compensateemission caused by their consumption. The system supports the producersof low emission products allowing sustainable product development. Theinvention uses computer technology, internet and personal smaller“calculator” devices such as mobile stations or devices. These wouldallow a consumer control use of his or her personal emission portion,which is an acceptable daily level of greenhouse gasses caused bypersonal consumption. The system further includes possibility for tradeof GHG-emissions between IPECS and with global GHG-emission tradesystems.

A technological analogy of the present system is ABS-brake system inwhich computer system is used for delivering information about tireconditions to allow effective braking without loosing control ofsteering. The present invention uses computer technology for accuratedelivery of information to consumers about GHG-emissions of numerousindividual products. The system would allow and guide consumers to costeffectively and wisely “brake” his or her product associated emissions,without causing additional economic problems or even worsening theproblem. The system would further have an educational function anddeliver information to producers.

It is realized that the system can be used for control of variousenvironmental or other “indirect properties” associated with variousproducts. Beside GHG-emissions also other pollution and/or emissions canbe analyzed per product and compared with an allowable level andcommunicated to consumers according to the invention with a possiblecompensation mechanism if possible to be arranged. The invention isspecifically directed to control of “indirect properties”, whichindicates properties of a product, which is not easily observable fromthe product and which do not essentially affect the direct usefulness ofthe product, such as emission of gas or other chemical causing negativeeffect on environment and/or people. The invention is further directedto control of properties related to “multi-individual effects” including“regional multi-individual effects” or “global multi-individual effects”problems, such as pollution effects associated with products, mostpreferably “global multi-individual effects” such as GHE.

It is further realized that the system according to the invention couldbe used for simultaneous control of multiple environmental and otherproblems when these are summed using weight factors of each componentproblems, so that weight factors indicate the comparative effect of eachproblem to the individual and the sum value is preferably normalized torecommendable maximal dose of combined problems. The present inventionis especially directed to control of the greenhouse effect when theindividual greenhouse gasses associated with a product are summed usinga weight factor indicating the effect of each individual gas on theincrease of GHE.

Certain mobile and/or computer systems have been developed forcommunication of nutrition related or other direct usefulnessinformation about various food products. The unusual nature of theproduct information of the present invention sets novel requirement foran effective system handling such information. In contrast to previoussystems the present invention is effective for example in handlingproduct information with the following characteristics:

1) Indirect properties of products. Due to indirect nature of theinformation, for example ethical or emission data, which are usually notdirectly observable from the product, the communication to consumersshould be demonstrative and easy to understand in context of a product.This is especially supported by simple demonstrative presentationformats as e.g. Daily Allowance and Quantitative Product Marks, and/or2) Multi-individual effects such as emissions associated with theproducts. The present invention allows e.g. compensation of the negativeeffect in Personal Emission Trading Interface (PETI) communicationbetween PECD-devices and pooling emissions between family members,and/or3) The effects which have cumulative effects such as pollution,especially GHE, this solved e.g. by establishing longer term EmissionBalance, possibility to compare products and endorse effective productsand PETI and/or4) Effects having an impact on numerous product types, preferably allproduct types, practically even all products, this is solved e.g. a) bystandardization of the problem as part of an Aim Level such as DailyAllowance and by a b) Product emission database (PED), which allowseffective production of data also on average levels allowing comparisonbetween different product types and groups. It is clear that exact datafrom all possible products is very difficult to obtain, as there is byfar over then thousand common food products in major shops in Finland,for example, but the system works effectively even with more roughaverage type information, Individual Product Group Information (IPGI).The IGPI would allow setting up the system and refining it later.

An example of the information with such properties is emissions of GHGs,which would not be observable directly from the product (and usualproduct information does not include anything about this), it effectscumulatively all people and it is associated with practically allpossible products in contrast to other product qualities.

It is also clear for example that nutritional factors affect mainly theconsumer of the product (and only in case of food) and do not have majormulti-individual effects at least on regional and/or global level. Therationale of spreading of nutritional or other traditional productquality indicators is to describe the product and its direct usefulnessto customer, while the present invention adds new dimensions to theproduct information.

The invention is further directed to effective communication of theGHE-problem (and like) on product level in a form, which is normalizedto sustainable level of consumption, and represented in form, whichallows comparison of numerous different products.

The present invention is directed to methods for delivering effectivelyquantitative information related to indirect beneficial or effectsrelated to products offered for customers or consumers.

The term product or goods here is in separate embodiments directed tomaterial products, and/or service products including providing or usingmaterial products and/or pure service products. Shop refers to anyphysical or virtual place from which a customer may buy or order anyproduct.

Product Mark Background

Numerous environmental marks are known and used for labelling productswith potential environmental benefit. These marks are used for labellingonly the best products fulfilling certain standards and they are noteffective in demonstrating negative effects of products, which are notfulfilling the standard. Trademark Climate cool is a good example ofthis development. The quantitative product mark allows showing thequantitative positive or negative effect of a product. This would allowcustomers to compare products even when immediate complete improvementof the product is not possible or would be difficult. The mark wouldallow benefit for responsible producers even when the indirect propertyis not completely improved.

On the other hand negative product marking is used with harmful productswith direct negative health effects to the customer, an example of thisis disease information, comprising labelling of cigarettes in theEuropean union. Another example is labelling of food products withhealth recommendations, for example about how much to use of daily.These marks do not include simple quantitative symbols according to theinvention. These marks are directed to direct health properties of thematerial consumed and thus are related with much simpler problem incommunicating the problem to the customer.

Related to the second major embodiment, certain international-standardsat least include information of working conditions of employees. Suchmarking does not demonstrate the indirect benefit or disadvantage forthe customer nor present a quantitative effect allowing gradualdevelopment of the products. Furthermore the quantitative labour markaccording to the present invention would preferably contain informationabout salary levels of the worker producing the product.

Multiple computer systems have been described for evaluation of effectsof greenhouse gases in industrial systems. These do not solve theproblem of controlling greenhouse effect, merely providing product datafor it. The present invention produces novel solutions for providing andusing data, preferably quantitative product based data and offers meansfor compensating emissions.

In EP 0964349 a method for determining the total environmental load forthe entire lifetime of a product is described. This load is based onother criteria than emissions of green house effect causing gasses.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,433 describes a method for performing anenvironmental load assessment for a product for making it possible tocompare products with each other. Still it does not offer thepossibility of calculating a personal effect on the green house gassemissions.

In EP 1298555 a method for calculating an environment informationevaluation result for a product based on the parts of the product ispresented.

JP 2003228616 describes a method according to which results of anevaluation of a product are presented as a product evaluation map orevaluation score but does not offer means for determining the impact onthe green house effect on a personal level.

US 2004/0254743 provides an industrial life cycle assessment systemproviding information about numerous variables. The system is notuseable on a personal level.

EP 1355247 presents a method wherein the total environmental load for aproduct is calculated.

WO 02/50727 is directed to a system for transactions via a mobilenetwork with predefined limits for transactions.

US 2004/0100383 presents a method for using a bar code or RFID forobtaining information from a product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. shows the key components of the IPECS system. The keycommunication processes between the units are marked by numbers.

FIG. 2. shows an example of buying process by PECD.

FIG. 3. shows an example of a Cloud environment mark concept.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to multi-component system called IPECS, whichcan be integrated with and include special Quantitative Product Marks(QPM). Key structures of IPECS, especially Personal Emission ControlDevice (PECD), may be also used separately. The system provideseffectively quantitative information about product based indirectproperties, especially environmental factors such as green house gasemissions.

The invention is also directed to a system for obtaining informationabout indirect property of a product comprising a personal PECD-devicecontaining an account for cumulative balance for the information aboutthe indirect property; a PED database in a PECD-device and/or means forcontacting an external PED, the PED database containing informationabout the indirect property normalized per product unit, means forcalculating cumulative balance values about the indirect property and anoptional external PED-database. The system preferably further comprisesconnections to one, two or three of systems selected from the group of ashop emission interface SEI, for obtaining electronic information abouta product identity or PED data, and/or a personal emission tradeinterface (PETI) for compensation of the indirect effect and connectionsto other PECD devices, preferably in the same household. The system ispreferably programmed to perform automated or semi automated shoppingbased on preset criteria about indirect property and optionally othercriteria such as price of the product.

The invention is also directed to a PECD device, wherein the devicecomprises optionally one or several of the following connections; to ashop emission interface and/or to a personal emission trade interface(PETI), and/or to a PED database and/or a connection for productconnected data, preferably a bar code scanning or RFID reading deviceand/or a connection to other PECD devices, preferably in the samehousehold.

One aspect of the invention is a system for obtaining information aboutindirect property of a product comprising a personal PECD-devicecontaining, an account for cumulative balance for the information aboutthe indirect property; a PED database in PECD-device and/or means forcontacting an external PED, the PED database containing informationabout the indirect property normalized per product unit; means forcalculating cumulative balance values about the indirect property and anoptional external PED-database. The system can further compriseconnections to one, two or three of systems selected from the group of ashop emission interface SEI, for obtaining electronic information abouta product identity or PED data, and/or a personal emission tradeinterface (PETI) for compensation of the indirect effect and other PECDdevices, preferably in the same household.

Further the invention is directed to a system for controlling greenhouseeffect by transferring information about product associated green housegas emissions of a product comprising a personal PECD-device, which is apersonal mobile station or Internet portal comprising an account forcumulative balance for the emission information about the product basedgreen house gas emission data; a PED database in PECD-device and/ormeans for contacting an external PED, the PED database containinginformation about the green house gas emissions normalized per productunit; means for calculating cumulative balance values about the indirectproperty and an optional external PED-database. The green house gasemission data is i) the amount of green house phenomenon causing gassesis presented as equivalents of carbon dioxide and ii) the data isrepresented on a display as part or proportion of a daily allowance,wherein the daily allowance is calculated as a relation of emissionproduced for a single product in relation to a globally sustainableemission level per person per day calculated as a relative value,preferably as per cent. The system further comprises connections to one,two or three of systems selected from the group of a shop emissioninterface SEI, for obtaining electronic information about a productidentity or PED data, and/or a personal emission trade interface (PETI)for compensation of the product associated greenhouse gas emissionsother PECD devices, preferably in the same household.

A further aspect of the invention is a system for controlling greenhouseeffect by transferring information about product associated green housegas emissions of a product comprising a personal PECD-device, which is apersonal mobile station or internet portal comprising an account forcumulative balance for the emission information about the product basedgreen house gas emission data; a PED database in PECD-device and/ormeans for contacting an external PED, the PED database containinginformation about the green house gas emissions normalized per productunit; means for calculating cumulative balance values about the indirectproperty and an optional external PED-database and wherein the greenhouse gas emission data is a) the amount of green house phenomenoncausing gasses is presented as equivalents of carbon dioxide and b) thedata is represented on a display as part or proportion of a dailyallowance, wherein the daily allowance is the amount of emission perperson which does not lead to increase of greenhouse effect. The systemmay further comprise connections to one, two or three of systemsselected from the group of a shop emission interface SEI, for obtainingelectronic information about a product identity or PED data, and/or apersonal emission trade interface (PETI) for compensation of the productassociated greenhouse gas emissions and other PECD devices, preferablyin the same household. The system may also include a shop emissioninterface, and the system obtains product identity information and/orproduct associated emission information from SEI. Also a PETI system canbe included.

According to this embodiment the SEI system provides greenhouse gasemission information about the product bought in context of buying andoptionally wherein the PECD obtains comparative emission data fromalternative products from SEI. The system may further involvecompensation of product associated emissions in PETI system, wherein thecarbon dioxide units are sold by PETI system to consumers using the PECDsystem for compensation of Daily allowance or Cumulated Balance needs,or wherein the system is programmed to communicate with other PECDdevices and it is used for emission trading and/or allocation betweenemission balances of persons in the same family or household.

Integrated Personal Emission Control System (IPECS)

The present invention is in a preferred embodiment directed toIntegrated Personal Emission Control System (IPECS). The IPECS includesbeside the “Core Inventions” of Personal Emission Control Device (PECD)and Product Emission Database (PED) further preferred interfaces toparties in “Emission Trading”, which indicates organizations tradingwith greenhouse gas emission rights such as the World Bank,“Production”, which means production of goods and “Markets” meaningshops/market places selling goods (services and/or products). In apreferred embodiment the IPECS includes the Core Inventions and at leastone interface to Emission Trading (APLCP and/or SCP), Markets (SEI, QMP)and Production (PIP, QMP). In a more preferred embodiment the interfaceis to Markets or to Emission Trading and even more preferably both ofthese, and even more preferably the IPECS includes interfaces to both ofthem and most preferably the IPECS includes all three interfaces toEmission Trading, Markets and Production.

Personal Emission Control Device (PECD)

Personal Emission Control Device (PECD) is a computer device or a groupof computer devices, which includes at least means for followingoperations

-   -   1) Contacting PED and obtaining individual product information        from the Product Emission Database (PED), and at least one of        following operations 2) or 3)    -   2) a) Optionally calculating the data as part of Aim Level        -   b) Display of data as a representation of PED data as part            of an “Aim Level” such as “Daily Allowance Level”,    -   3) Calculating “Emission Balance” based PED-data obtained about        the goods (products and/or services) bought and/or consumed

More preferably PECD includes at least means for the followingoperations

-   -   1) Contacting a PED and obtaining individual product information        from the Product Emission Database (PED),    -   2) Display of data as a representation of PED data as a portion        of an “Aim Level” such as the “Daily Allowance Level”, and        Optional display of comparative product data including PED data        as a portion of the Aim Level,    -   3) Optional interactions with Shop Data Interface (SDI),        preferably a Shop Emission Interface (SEI) selected from the        group of        -   a) Optional display of comparative product data including            PED data as a portion the Aim Level, such as the Daily            Allowance,        -   b) Optional and/or parallel electronic means for performing            purchase of good(s) preferably by mobile shopping/money            transfer interface such as a WAP-system.            -   In a preferred embodiment the purchase is automatic or                semiautomatic based on selected criteria for PED                data-levels considered acceptable by the consumer. The                shopping system compares the individual PED values of                the products and selects one or several products                fulfilling the criteria. In the fully automated versions                the automated comparison operation may replace the                previous operation 2), display of data.        -   c) Optional transfer of product information, preferably            PED-data, from the Shop Data Interface    -   4) Calculating “Emission Balance” based PED-data obtained about        the goods (products and/or services) bought and/or consumed    -   5) Storing the Emission Balance in an “Account of Personal        Emission Balance”, which may be located in PECD or        -   a) optionally including the step of contacting Personal            Emission Trade Interface and        -   b) storing information about the balance there and        -   c) further giving order for compensation of total or part of            the balance        -   d) paying for the compensation service, preferably online            through the Internet.

The invention is further directed to method of operating PECD byperforming the steps described above.

Preferred Formats of PECD-Devices

Preferably the PECD is included in a consumer mobile electronic devicesuch as a mobile phone, mobile shopping device, MP3 player, game device,radio, mobile TV, camera, computer, handheld computer, watch, musicplayer, video game, electric notebook or diary, health device measuringa health parameter such as hearth rate and/or steps taken, calculator,or currency calculator or combination thereof. The invention is furtherdirected to electronic shopping devices, which include PECD as the onlyor major function, preferably major function of the device. Theinvention is further directed to PECD as the major function of a deviceand the device optionally includes other functions such as any of themobile device functions described above. In a preferred embodiment PECDis included as an individual service package or program in the device.More preferably the PECD service is included as a service package in amobile station.

It is further realized that the PECD may be included in a non-mobilecomputer system or server such as (home) personal computer, or anoutside computer system such as a shop computer or a computer managingPECD belonging to a separate organization, preferably to organizationmanaging or in connection with a PETI-system. In that case the consumermay perform operations at home or use a mobile connection to thenon-mobile computer.

In case the PECD is located in a shop computer, the operations may beperformed automatically for example after the consumer has beenidentified in connection with a purchase. The shop may further providecomputer interfaces for checking status of the Emission Balance. In apreferred embodiment the shop provides cumulative PED information,preferably Emission Balance when reporting other purchase related datato the customer such as an account status when the customer has a moneyaccount at the shop and/or when reporting bonus status of a customerbelonging to a bonus program or club or the like. The shop PECD systemmay be located in or connected to a cash register machine or system andPECD operations may be performed in connection to a SEI-system producingdata about items purchased by a consumer. It is realized that personalPECD systems are preferred unless the PECD service and storage in apersonal account such as an account in PETI system is available from allshops and preferably also from personal computer or other personaldisplay method.

When a separate organization managing centrally PECD for example inconnection with PETI (or part of it) the consumer has an electronicconnection, preferably a mobile connection, to the PECD-computer. Theconsumer contacts the computer and is identified automatically based onthe connection or by separate electronic means and/or givesidentification information after which the operations may be performed.The consumer give identification/PECD information in context of purchaseat a shop and shop may manually or preferably automatically transfer theinformation to a central PECD device and associated account such as anaccount in a PETI system.

It is further realized that the PED database or a (current) version ofit may be stored in a PECD device or computer used by the customer. Thisis preferred especially when the consumer prefer savings in potentialconnection costs. In a preferred embodiment the database is stored asIPGI information in the mobile PECD device. The product groupinformation will allow operations but requires less memory capacity forthe mobile device.

Calculator

The calculator part of the PECD is used with calculations andtransformations of PED-data (IGPI and IPD).

Calculation of Emission Balance

The major calculation operation is calculation of Emission Balance. Thepreferred PED-data is preferably represented as or transformed to apercent value of the Daily Allowance level. The emission balance iscalculated by subtracting (minus operation) an individual emission valuefrom the Daily Allowance. The values of emissions may be given asnormalized values.

Representing the PED data as Daily Allowance

When green house gases and/or other environmental problems are measuredthe exact amount of harmful environmental effect, preferably amount ofgreen house gasses is associated with production or use of a specifiedproduct, may be presented as “daily allowance of greenhouse emission” orhere briefly Daily Allowance.

For material or products consumed on a daily basis the daily allowanceis preferably calculated as a relation of emission produced for a singleproduct in relation to a globally sustainable emission level per personper day calculated as relative value, preferably as per cent (%), 100%thus corresponding to full level. Current estimates by UN recommend a60% reduction of green house gas emissions. The sustainable dailyemissions would currently then be 0.40 multiplied by total globalemissions per the total number of world population per day.

The daily allowance for a product that is useful for a longer time thana day, the “long term daily allowance” is preferably calculated dividingthe daily allowance of a single long-term product by the number of daysthe product is useful on average. The long-term daily allowance markinformation should contain the period of time over which is counted. Theperiod of long-term daily allowance may be presented as days or as days,months and years, when preferably a month is calculated as 30 days andyear is calculated as 360 days.

In another embodiment the daily emissions of a product are calculated asgrams/kilograms per product of emissions after emissions are calculatedas average green house gas, preferably as carbon dioxide, based on thescientifically evaluated effect of the various greenhouse gasses. Theweight based daily emissions are more concrete, but would requiretime-based evaluation by customer and would not be as demonstrative andeasy to use as % presentation for example in context of a shoppingdecision.

Method for Calculating Emission Balance from Daily Allowance % Valuesfor a Group of Persons

The present invention is directed to calculating Emission Balance valuesper single customer/person (personal daily allowance %-sum) or perconsumption unit of several persons such as family, retirement home forelderly, school or day care centre (consumption unit daily allowance%-sum). Preferably a person belongs to a single consumption unit. Incase a person belongs to several units purchasing major green houseemission involving products, the personal Emission Balance may becontrolled or allocated to the personal account by calculating a portionof the person from the daily allowance per cents from all consumptionunits the person belongs to and optionally allocating the burden fromconsumption unit's Emission Balance personal daily allowance %-sum.

Preferably the PECD devices include a possibility for communicating withother PECD devices, the allocations and possible intra group emissiontrading can be performed by automated operations and/or by semiautomaticoperations requiring acceptance by the owner of the device. This isrealized so that various units such as points may be chosen instead of%-units yielding a similar result, the % considered to be moreeffective.

Personal Emission Control Device (PECD) for Daily Allowance Control

The present invention is further directed to PECD, a calculator,calculating with Daily Allowance %-values and optionally transformingone or several consumption units daily allowances %-value/values topersonal daily allowance %-value/values or vice versa. Preferably thePECD also stores values. In a preferred embodiment the balance of dailyallowance, Emission Balance value is calculated online, when purchase isperformed. Alternatively Emission Balance can be calculated as the sumof personal or consumption unit daily allowance % value is after everyday at 24.00 o'clock subtracted from 100%. The positive value wouldindicate that part of the daily allowance has been left over forpotential later use, negative value would indicate that the dailyallowance was exceeded and this should be compensated later. Theinformation may be stored with date for later consumption evaluation.

Options for Handling Longer Term Emission Balance Cumulative Balance

In a preferred embodiment the calculator should save the sum of thesubtracted positive or negative values after every day as cumulativeallowance %. The calculator would preferably change the cumulativeallowance % to time units (days and/or months and/or years depending onthe size of the value, days are obtained by dividing the cumulativeallowance value by 100%). The PECD contains preferably a specificaccount named as the Cumulative Balance Account (CBA), alternatively theinformation of the Cumulative Balance can be stored to an account atPETI system, or/and compensated at PETI system. The consumer may then bymanual operation or automatically for example monthly balance the CBAaccount by transferring the excess or deficit amount of daily allowanceto PETI system. It is assumed that the balance for most persons inindustrial countries is negative and that there is a need forcompensation. In a preferred system there is at least a possibility tocompensate the lack Daily Allowance % units in the PETI system.

Alternatively the cumulative balance is calculated on line and at theend of a day at 24 o'clock added to the Daily Allowance % of the nextday (or days) (when part of the allowance was left) or subtracted fromthe Daily Allowance % of next day (or days) (meaning adding negativeEmission Balance when allowance was exceeded previous day). This systemmay cause negative (or positive) balance for several days, which may bemanaged by transferring to large negative or positive amounts to aspecific account for the Cumulative Balance, alternatively theinformation of the Cumulative Balance can be stored to an account at thePETI system, or/and compensated at the PETI system. The user may decidehow to manage the Cumulative Balance on a daily bases.

Communication

The PECD communicates preferably with PED, SEI and PETI as shown inFIG. 1. If the PED database or its smaller version is included PECD isin a preferred embodiment operated alone, and preferably using data fromproduct interfaces such as bar codes and RFID-devices. PECD may befurther programmed to communicate directly with_organization providingcompensations of green house gas emissions such as APLCP and SCPaccording to the FIG. 1.

The PECD device may be further be programmed to communicate with otherPECD devices. This would allow emission trading and/or allocation forexample between emission balances of persons in the same family orhousehold. It is realized that part of consumption such as housingrelated emissions are often shared between persons. Such cost may beallocated for example based on data obtained from an electricity orheating energy bill (invoice). The communication between PECD devices idfurther preferably used for trading of Daily Allowance units obtained bypersonal operations in reducing CO₂ from atmosphere, referred to here asReduction Efforts. The PECD system includes in a preferred modeincluding instructions and database for effects of Reduction Efforts andoptional verification service for such operations including growingplant materials.

Display

Display means display of data as representation of PED data as a portionof an “Aim Level” such as “Daily Allowance Level”, and Optional displayof comparative product data including PED data as a portion of the AimLevel.

Data Storage of Personal Emissions

The PECD devices include data storage possibilities such as cumulatedbalance account (CBA) and account for transfer to PETI services.

Database

In a preferred embodiment the PEACD includes a current or smallerversion of PED database, for example including the key IGPI data.

Automated Operations

The invention reveals novel possibility for automated or semi automatedshopping based on product data, preferably the preferred product dataaccording to the present invention, more preferably ethical or emissionsdata according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment the purchaseis automatic or semiautomatic based on selected criteria for the data.

In a preferred embodiment the purchase is automatic or semiautomaticbased on selected criteria for PED data-levels considered acceptable bythe consumer. In these format the shopping system compares theindividual PED values of the products and selects one or severalproducts fulfilling the criteria. In the semiautomatic shopping thecustomer accepts one or several of the products before the shopping isperformed. In the fully automated versions the automated comparisonoperation may replace the display of data step in operating the PECD

Product Emission Database (PED) Product Based Emission Data

Green House Gas Emissions from Production and Sales of a Product

Preferred methods include evaluation of all green house gas emissions ofa specific product. When evaluating the production phase, the presentinvention is directed to total green house emissions for a specificproduct. Preferred evaluation includes evaluation of emissions relatedto raw materials, transportation steps, production and sales of theproduct.

The present invention is directed to the counting of the green house gasemissions of a raw material including all emissions of all possible rawmaterials used for production of the raw material. The calculatedemissions include all emissions including transportation and productionand possible material based emissions. The emissions to be calculatedare emissions from non-renewable sources.

The transportation related emissions include emission from alltransportation related emissions from all raw material and productionand product related transportation. The transportation steps arepreferably included from production of raw materials to the level of thedelivery of the product to the customer.

In case the product or the production step or a raw material causesreduction of fossil green house gas emissions or green house gasemissions from non-renewable sources, the reduction is deducted from thetotal emissions of the final product, alternatively the reduction ofemission can be deducted from the emissions of a specific raw materialif the emissions are related to the raw material, in case the reductionis larger than the non-renewable emissions related to the raw material,the emissions of the specific raw material can be calculated as negativeemission in further calculations. Material based emissions includeemissions of material not based on a specific productions step butemissions spontaneously from a material.

The evaluation is in a preferred embodiment performed at pre-decidedpractical accuracy level, which may be included as additionalinformation to PED data. In practical level analysis of process steps,which have reasonably small effect are omitted from the analysis.

Calculation of the Emission Per Product Unit

The present invention is further directed to calculating the emissionsper product unit. All raw material based emissions are calculated perproduct unit based on the amount of a specific raw material used for theproduction of end product unit. In the production phase the raw materialemissions may be first calculated per suitable larger amount of productscorresponding to a specific amount of end product units. For thecalculation of a final per product unit emission, the emission of alarger amount of products is divided by corresponding number of endproduct units. Alternatively all emission may be calculated through outbased on the emission per end product unit. The end product unit is thesingle unit amount of product sold to the consumer.

Calculation of the Average Emissions and Relative Emission forQuantitative Presentation

The present invention is further directed to a method of calculatingaverage per product unit emissions for a specific product. In case thereare differences in amounts of products in product units, the productunit emissions are normalized based on the amount of products in acommon product unit type. The average emission is calculated as anaverage of the products available in the markets based on the regularproduct unit or normalized product units. In case there is largevariation in emissions and single or few very high emission productscause bias in the average regular responsible producers, some of thelargest values may be left out from average or median emissions may beused instead of the average emissions.

The present invention is further directed to calculation of relativeemissions of end product in relation to the average or median emissionsof the products in the market. The emissions of the end product aredivided by the average or median emissions of the similar end productsin the market. In a preferred embodiment the relation is presented as anumber with two or three decimals, or in another embodiment as per cent.

Individual Product Group Information (IPGI)

Individual Product Group Information means the best available estimateof general effect per product unit within a group of similar productswhen available in similar product units or the comparable per weight orvolume unit (gram, kg, liter, gallon etc. the unit should chosen as mostfamiliar for the customer). Preferably the PECD device is programmed tocalculate the emission per product unit when the product unit differsfrom the one in database. Additional features are preferred to includecorrection based on packaging or transport or like if consideredrelevant for the value of specific product. The IGPI value may be givenfor example for all products of 1 liter of milk, average newspaper withabout 20 pages or for 300 g candies. The IGPI value may be selected tobe upper limit or average of the estimated environmental effect, suchpreferably as GHG-emissions. The PED data may include information how aspecific value of IGPI is obtained and how accurate it is. It isrealized that exact values can be laborious and difficult to obtain. TheIPGI values would allow development of the system when information isnot completely available for individual products. FurthermoreQuantitative Product Mark classifications would allow advanced producersto show products better than the IPGI.

Individual Product Data (IPD)

IPD is individual product emission data, preferably GHG-emission data,for a specific product per product unit. Preferably IPD is given asDaily Allowance, but database would preferably include alternativeformat as a mount of CO₂-equivalents (as grams or kg:s for example).

PED Management

PED management portal includes access to database and its parameter andpreferably an Internet portal available for operator of PED. Themanagement portal includes tools for analyzing and checking data to beincluded in the database. The PED management further includesmaintenance of the computer system, network and connections andinformation available for consumer using the PED database.

Communication

PED obtains requests of specific product data from PECD (10, FIG. 1) anddelivers back information about products (11), similar information(possibly in larger amounts) may be requested and obtained between SEIand PED (61 and 60) for individual shopping processes and/or for storagein SEI database. PED data may transferred to PETI (50 and 51) forexample when PETI contains also PECD/PED or SEI interface, and to PIP(70 and 71) when PIP has for example SEI services. Connection to PIP (70and 71) is also used for transfer raw PED data from PIP.

Information Verification Interface

In a preferred embodiment the information is at least partially obtainedfrom producers. The information verification interface is used forcomparison of values of similar products obtained from differentproducers for example in form of tables listing known product steps andcorresponding emissions and/or raw material content of each product.

Estimate Calculation Interface

The management of PEP also contains automated calculation devices, whichproduce estimates of PED based on for example raw materials content of aproduct and possible transport costs.

Automated Information Services

The Information services are preferably automated for requested byauthorized systems. This requires a step of recognizing authorizedsystem connecting to PED.

Optional Services

The PED may include synergistic services such as optional PETI, PECD,and/or SEI Services, if the service producer would have possibilitiesand means for such operations.

Database and Computer for the Storage of Data and Calculations

The present invention is further directed to a database containingvarious emissions of production of a single product. The invention isfurther directed to automated method for calculating the per end productemissions based on the calculation per end product using the database ofthe emission information and information how these emissions relate tothe amount of end product. The invention includes further computerizedcalculation, preferably automated or semi automated calculation, of theaverage emissions and relative emissions.

In a preferred embodiment the invention is directed to a databasecontaining information about the average emissions and relative emissionof various products of a specific product type. Furthermore the presentinvention is directed to the database containing the emissioninformation of multiple product types. Preferably the database containsthe information (IPGI and/or IPD) about a) key products with regard toGHE or b) most of the consumer products in the market and even morepreferably at least in product group level about two thirds of thepreferred products or of about 90% of the preferred products, and evenmore preferably of 95% of the products in the market and most preferablyabout practically all products in a specific market. Preferably theinvention is directed to a database containing emission data of mostdaily used consumer products or product groups available fromsupermarkets or other shops to average consumers on a market. Theinvention is further directed to calculation tool in PECD or SEI forestimating effect of a product by its raw material content and possibletransport.

Personal Emission Trade Interface (PETI)

PETI is an interface or service provider between individual consumersand compensation service providers such as SCP or APLCP, FIG. 1. Theinterface is useful because the personal emission amounts are in generalrelatively low in comparison to international emission trading and thetransactions require expertise and time. PETI buys units of reducedcarbon dioxide in the atmosphere, or reduction of its production from aSCP, typically a smaller scale service provider, or reduction of carbondioxide production from APLCP-organization such as World Bank orEmission Trading system of EU. The carbon dioxide units are sold toconsumers using the PECD system for compensation of Daily allowance orCumulated Balance needs. The trading system preferably providesinformation and alternatives of the compensation means. PETI may includeintegrated additional services such as APLCP and/or SCP

Accounting

PETI system includes accounts of multiple consumers, optionally alsoaccounts of producers (PIP) for partially or totally compensating theemission, using the system. PETI has accounts at emission trading toobtain equivalent amount of CO₂-emission rights. The system charges forcarbon dioxide equivalents bought for compensation of emissions.

Individual Accounts

Individual personal accounts of Emission Balance, especially CumulativeBalance Account or copies thereof may be stored in PETI. PETI includesaccounts of individual consumers for compensation of emission. Copyingdata about every transaction to PETI is especially preferred when thesystems need verification and control, for example in the format ofsystem which allows public selling of carbon dioxide emissions to PETIor other consumers.

Communication

PETI receives information of accounts from PECD (30, FIG. 1) andconfirms back obtaining the information and possible compensations (31),similar information may be obtained from PIP (not market, possibly inlarger amounts). Verification information may be delivered from SEI andPED and confirmed to be obtained (41 and 40; 50 and 51) for individualshopping processes. Connections APLCP (90, 91) and/or SCP (100,101) areused for obtaining emission rights.

Shop Emission Interface (SEI)

The present invention is further directed to SEI system as “partialcalculators” calculating a partial sum of the daily allowance %-valuesfrom a group of products purchased in a shop.

Providing Product Data by SEI-System Product Identity Data

SEI provides, if PED-data is not available, product identification datain context of purchase for example in electronic form from a cashregister. PECD may use this for communication with PED.

IPGI/IPD-Data

SEI may provide IPGI/IPD-data from PED system.

Alternative/Compensated Products (AGP)

In a preferred embodiment the SEI system provides information ofalternative products before purchase and/or a possibility to compensatethe emissions of the products in context of a purchase. These may bepreprogrammed automated operations requested by PECD.

Cash Register Machine Associated SEI-Systems

The computer providing SEI-information is preferably a cash register orcash register associated computer system calculating sum daily allowance%-values associated with the products sold. Preferably to a total dailyallowance value of the products and long term allowance values withtheir specific time periods of long term allowance products.Additionally the preferred SEI-systems include means for transferringinformation to personal calculators. The transfer methods includeprinting of values as numbers, printing of coded values preferably whencoded as bar code values, or coded in small electronic devices such asRFID-devices, electronic transfer of values preferably through bluetooth or other wireless methods, electrical transfer involving transfertogether with other payment related information such as transfer to acustomer with credit card or bank card or bonus card information. When aprint of values is used the personal device such as PECD or servicecomputer at shop preferably includes a scanning device for collectingthe printed information.

It is further realized that shopping may occur remotely through Internetor as regular mail order and the emission data and related informationmay be send by email or like, or by phone or text message. The PECDdevice may optionally include means of reading mobile data, and/oremails/or text messages coded to give product data.

Communication

SEI receives information requests from PECD (20, FIG. 1) and deliver PEDdata and/or product identity information (31). PED-information may beobtained from the PIP and confirmed to be obtained (80 and 81) and/orfrom PED (60 and 61). Verification information may be delivered from SEIto PETI and confirmed to be obtained (41 and 40) for individual shoppingprocesses.

Product Connected Identification and PED-Data

It is further more realized and preferred that the PED-data may beconnected to the product interface including bar code and/or othermachine readable (can be scanned) data such as quantitativeproduct/environmental mark and/or Daily Allowance mark and/or dataspecifying the product group or individual product and/or RFID-dataobtainable for consumer for manual handling and transferring to PECD.Alternatively in a preferred embodiment the data is transferredautomatically from product package interface to the PECD-device whenPECD includes system for scanning and interpreting machine-readable datasuch as bar code and/or other defined markings and/or system for readingRFID data. Multiple methods for reading bar code data and RFID data bymobile devices have been published.

It is further realized that bar code and/or RFID data (used regularlyfor logistics of shops/production) can be read by PECD device, e.g.mobile phone equipped with a camera for reading bar codes as describedby scientist of VTT, Finland (PCT published 12/2005). The data can befurther be used for identification of the specific product and then theidentity for search of corresponding PED-data from PED database.

Producer of Individual Product(s) (PIP) IPD of Own Products (Own IPD)

The producer of individual products will provide (at least forbeginning) voluntarily emission information of their products for PEDdatabases and/or for SEI systems. The advanced products may have abenefit in the markets.

IPD of AGPs

The producer may further provide alternative or emission compensatedproducts and information about these for PED databases and/or SEIsystems.

Optional SEI and PETI Services

The producer may also offer SEI services in context of direct sales ofproducts. The producer may also include Product information to theproduct. In a preferred embodiment the producer offers the PETI serviceor a connection to the PETI service in connection with purchase such asInternet shopping allowing simultaneous compensation of emissions ifrequired by the customer.

Communication

PIP communicates especially with the PED (70 and 71) and providesinformation about its products including alternative and/or emissioncompensated products by SEI (80 and 81) and by potential productconnected information. Furthermore PIP may transfer information directlyto the PECD for example in context of internet sales. PIP may alsoconnect to PETI or APLCP or SCP for precompensating emissions of aproduct. In a preferred form of transaction the shop or internet shop ofPIP includes connection to PETI for a compensation operationsimultaneous with the purchase.

Authority or Private Large Compensation Provider (APLCP)

APLCP sells reduction of GHG-emission production preferably through aPETI interface. APLCP-organization includes e.g. World Bank, EmissionTrading system of EU and large US or Japanese brokers of emissions.

Accounting and Compensation

The APLCP-organizations may have specific accounts by which the orderedemission rights or carbon dioxide equivalents are transferred on requestto PETI system. The PETI system provides monetary compensation bysuitable means preferably by online operation.

Service Compensation Provider (SCP)

SCP sells units of reduced GHG-emission in the atmosphere, or reductionof its production preferably through a PETI interface. SCPs aretypically service providers in contrast to large broker organizationsperforming operations directly with CO₂ and/or other GHGs.

Accounting and Compensation

The SCP-organizations may have specific accounts by which the orderedemission rights or carbon dioxide equivalents are transferred on requestto PETI system. The PETI system provides monetary compensation bysuitable means preferably by online operation.

Systems, Devices and Key Parts Thereof.

The present invention is directed to a systems and devices according tothe present invention, more preferably when the said system or deviceincludes means for storing information of personal green house gasproportions bought from trade of green house gas emission permits. Thepresent invention is further directed to a calculator according to thepresent invention, when said calculator includes means for buyingpersonal green house gas proportions from trade of green house gasemission permits.

The present invention is further directed to a transaction process ofbuying private consumer goods by a regular consumer when the sellerrequests a specific amount of greenhouse gas emissions permits, and thespecific amount of permits are taken (subtracted) from a personalaccount of the consumer. In a preferred embodiment the subtraction isperformed either as voluntarily process or in another process asauthority regulated controlled process. At least in the latter casethere is a need for a data security process in form of encryptation orother means.

In a preferred embodiment the account is the daily allowance for theperson and possible permits bought by trade of permits. Preferably thetransaction process further includes process for recording ofinformation of the transaction for possible control of the process. In apreferred embodiment the transaction process is performed using the PECDaccording to the present invention.

There is a variety of electronic payment systems and technologies whichare commonly known. Systems and technologies directed to delivering foodcalory etc. information has been described in WO2004/107227, U.S. Pat.No. 5,412,564 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,049. Bar code reading technologiesby mobile devices has been described e.g. in WO2005/124657, andapplications cited in its international search report (US20020102966, US20030218069, U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,525).

It is realized that similar computer technologies/device design can beused for present invention for constructing PECD devices and/or SEIsystems for delivery of product based green house gas emissions. Thefood data dos not describe indirect effect to consumer and the use ofthe systems for present invention was not obvious, furthermore effect offood it cannot be compensated by monetary transactions as by PETIsystems.

The invention is further directed to use product names and/or brandnames, or number forms of bar codes or scanned product logos as productidentification for obtaining information from PED databases, in apreferred embodiment text message or email is used for obtaininginformation from PED database. The database may provide information ofalternative products with the same product names and/or brand names,from which the user can select the exact product which he or she wouldlike to get the information about.

Further Preferred Aspects of the Invention Alternative Presentation ofthe Emissions

In a separate embodiment the invention is directed to presenting theemissions in terms of cost(s) as money in case of compensation byalternative or a selected compensation means. The cost of compensationis calculated by the cost of compensation and actual or estimatedproduct based emissions. In a preferred embodiment the emission and/orcompensations/needs for compensations are presented both as in one offollowing ways, preferably at least two ways selected, and mostpreferably they are selected form the group: part of daily (or othertime based) allowance, and/or as sum of money and/or as portion(preferably %) of emission of average product. The preference of therepresentation depends of the needs associated with the operation in useaccording to the invention. Monetary expression together with time basedallowance such daily or annual allowance is preferred in context ofcompensation operations.

Personal Compensation Efforts

Preferably the system includes possibility for the customer tocompensate emissions by personal measures such as accumulating carbon inbiomass growing trees or producing renewal raw material based fuels. Ina preferred system there is verification connection to verify the valueof the personal compensation operation by a reliable authority orconsultant. Preferably this verification uses computer connections, andverification means according to the invention such as book keepingverification and practical verification means and the verification mayinclude visual material provided through a data network as described forother practical verification.

Alternative/Compensated Products (AGP) and Processes

Is realized, that providing of alternative and/or emission compensatedproducts, would serve customers and reduce the need of compensatingand/or calculating emissions. The invention is therefore directed toeffective means for providing information about emission compensatedproducts and/or possibilities for compensation in context of thepurchase.

Compensation of Emissions in Context of Purchase

In a preferred embodiment the invention is directed to systems, whereinthe emissions are compensated in context of purchase. This may occur bythe PECD system, manually or as an automated process.

Compensation Mode in Context of Purchase

In a preferred embodiment compensation is performed by shop preferablyby a SEI-interface.

It is realized that the compensation can be performed by shop/commercialservice or product producer in context of purchase without PECD deviceor similar mobile device. The compensation can be performed in contextregular shopping when the cash register or corresponding device containsmeans for compensation.

Timeline of Compensation

It is realized that compensation may be decided and communicated forindividual products and/or for a group of products such as selectedproducts considered to have especially large emissions. In a preferredembodiment the compensations is performed for a total set of products“the shopping” purchase together after one shopping event. It furtherrealized that shop/shop interface may accumulate compensationinformation and the compensation may be performed for larger lot ofshoppings for example timely bases such as for a week, two weeks, onemonth, three, six or twelve months (/year). When compensation isperformed by the shop for a lot of shoppings or shoppings performedduring specific time period, this may be performed in a shop asdescribed above or the communication may be performed in internetbetween computers.

Multi Level Compensations

In a preferred embodiment the system includes at least two compensationlevels. The preferred compensation levels are based on preferably to thelevel of emission relative to average product among similar productswith the same amount of the product and/or the cost of compensation. Inthe embodiment of cost based levels the emission based compensation maybe also based on absolute amount of emission, measured for example byequivalents of CO₂. The cost of compensation may be relative to theprice of the product or absolute amount of money to be used forcompensation. In preferred automatic mode shopping the device (PECD/SEI)select desired compensation level based on pre-selected criteria. Thecustomer may select desired emission based on amount or level ofemission to reach desired level of personal emissions, preferably tryingto achieve personal emission levels, which would allow reducing orstopping global warming caused by green house gas emissions associatedwith the products.

The preferred emission level control includes one or several of thefollowing operations

1) adjustment of compensation based on the emission level, absolute orrelative cost,2) providing information to customer about emission level ofcompensation3) providing possibility to select a product based on emission level4) possibility reduce or increase the amount of product based on theemission level effectiveness.

Alternatively the preferred compensation level can be chosen completelyor partially cost based, the cost based levels can be used to controlthe cost of compensation related to economic goal or position of thecustomer. The partial cost based compensation level includes preferablymaximal compensation level related to the cost of the product of aproduct or maximal compensation cost for a product or shopping or set ofshoppings. The maximal level is preferably used be used for preventingthe customer from exceeding his/hers budget. In an additional subapplication the decision making about the compensation is connected tothe level of personal budget system controlled by computer of thecustomer. In case the budget would be exceeded by the compensation, thesystem preferably consults the customer or adjusts the operation bylowering the cost for compensation by pre-selected criteria. Thepreferred cost based level adjustment further includes optional checkingthe relative level of compensation with regard to total price of theproduct. This would provide additional information to the costeffectiveness of compensation for a product type.

The preferred price level control includes one or several of thefollowing operations

1) adjustment of compensation based on the cost level, absolute orrelative cost,2) providing information to customer about cost level of compensation3) providing possibility to select a product based on cost level4) possibility reduce or increase the amount of product based on thecost level effectiveness.

The invention is in a preferred embodiment directed to personal budgetsystems collecting information about shoppings, which may be also usedindependently of other parts of invention. The personal budget systempreferably collects price information from the shoppings, preferably online from cash register or from SEI-system. Preferably the personalbudget system also collects information about product names, quantitiesand types. The personal budget system contains optional program means tocompare the costs and items from previous shoppings to observe changesof costs of regular predicts consumed and occasional shopping items. Thesystem can adjust personal budget on line based on items to be bought.When the budget is adjusted the budget system is in preferredsub-embodiment adjusted to check possibilities of compensation ofemissions or additional possibilities for compensations.

The preferred process of compensation includes at least following steps:

1. Providing from the shop to customer information about compensationpossibility and

-   -   a) Optionally possible levels of compensation of the levels of        the total amount        -   of the product(s) associated emission such as 100% (total),            75%, 67% (two thirds), 50%, 33% (one third), 25% or 10%            compensation, or possibility for any selected part of            compensation, especially selection of a compensation            corresponding to            -   a certain fixed amount money or            -   a fixed proportion of the price of the product    -   b) Information about the cost compensation for total        compensation and/or cost of compensation on various levels of        compensation, preferably in terms of levels of the total amount        of product associated emissions as above in a) and/or as fixed        part of price of the product        2. Receiving the information by the customer and making decision        by the customer.

In a preferred embodiment the information is obtained by a mobile deviceof customer or displayed by device connected to cash register, and morepreferably the decision about compensation is either semiautomatic orautomatic based on criteria pre-selected by the customer. Thesemiautomatic process would preferably require displaying a suggestedcompensation level or compensation levels to customer and a confirmationby customer the acceptance or change of compensation level by signalsuch as preferably pressing or otherwise manipulating a button or anicon or like interface connected to the displaying device or by vocalcommunication

3. Providing from the customer to shop information about willingness tocompensation

and information about use of total compensation or selected level ofcompensation based on price of the product. It is realized that shopinterface may provide only single level of compensation in terms oflevel of total emission or price. In this context, the customer informsthe shop by acceptance or disapproval of the compensation.

In a manual/non-electronic shopping the customer may provide theinformation by saying it to cash register operator. The invention ispreferably directed to a cash register comprising means for input ofcompensation information by pressing or otherwise manipulating a buttonor an icon or like interface connected to the displaying device.

Shop Based Compensation Means

There are several preferred embodiments and aspects directed to specificforms to shop based compensation systems.

There are multiple preferred aspects associated with shop basedcompensation systems e.g. based on the type of shop and/or merchandise.It realized that the requirements and business are different for examplein context of

1. consumer products

The present invention provides specific advance in control of emissionsfor large groups of various types of consumer products. It is realizedthat this is beneficial in comparison to previous compensation ideas. Itis especially useful to control energy intensive consumer products suchas various food products, or metal containing consumer products. Thepreferred consumer product system operates in context of shopping ofdaily/weekly consumer goods such as food and other consumer productsfrom regular shops and supermarkets.

2. energy intensive services such as travelling, especially air traffic

The present invention provides specific good aspects with regard to mostenergy intensive transport, which is air traffic. It is realized thatsome compensation systems has existed for this branch similarly as forcar fuels but the present invention provides additional benefit andmethods also for this context.

3. selling of fuels, especially vehicle fuels, especially car fuels

It is realized that some compensation systems has existed for car fuelsbut the present invention provides additional benefit and methods alsofor this context.

There are further useful specific aspects in context of compensationsystems such as

connection to state level emission control,additional emission compensation by a non-consumer partyproviding book keeping information for customer's own emission control,providing the information over specific time period,compensation in context of specific customer identification system,connections to one or several parts of integrated system of presentinvention:

-   -   connection to PECD systems,        -   connection to PED systems,        -   connection to PETI.

It is realized that these aspects are also preferred in context of othercompensation modes according to the invention.

Connection to State Level Emission Control

The invention is directed to connection and book keeping of thecompensations with regard to state level emission control. It isrealized that the personal compensation/emission reduction effects statelevel emission control efforts such as one regulated with EU emissiontrading. It can be further realized that the verification and bookkeeping of personal emission may be used for giving tax subventions orreductions from environmental taxes. The preferred emission controlsystems include connection to an account for book keeping of totalemission control of a consumer. The total emission control preferablyincludes information about following: information about consumer withname or with a verification code; information of total compensatedand/or emissions replaced by low emission products; information of totalemissions by the consumer.

It is realized that the information may be used by authorities in orderto follow personal emission and changes in consumer behaviour. It isrealized that is useful to direct taxes to consumption and it is usefulto give tax subventions and reductions for persons controlling theiremissions.

It is realized that the connection to stated level emission controlsystem would be useful and is preferred in context of all emissioncompensation means according to the invention.

Additional Emission Compensation by a Non-Consumer Party

In a preferred embodiment the invention includes additional compensationof emission, which would supplement the emissioncompensations/reductions according to the invention by a non-consumerparty. In a preferred embodiment the state authority pays additionalcompensation on the top of the compensation performed by the customer.In another optional preferred embodiment the state authority may providetax reduction for the product compensated by the customer, thiscompensation may be programmed to cash register system/SEI system, incontext of accepting the compensation by the consumer.

It is realized that the additional compensation may be performed by theadvertising reasons by a third party collaborating the party maintainingthe compensation system. The additional compensations are preferablyincluded as separate item in the emission book keeping.

Providing Book Keeping Information for Customer's Own Emission Control

Regardless of the emission control system used by the customer, it isuseful to provide the emission information for the customer.

In a preferred embodiment the shop compensation system providesinformation about cumulative emission and compensated emissions as PECDsystem. It is realized that the account for personal emission andcompensation thereof is in a preferred embodiment programmed to shopsystem. It is realized that at least larger shops effectively functionin emission trading according to the invention.

Providing the Information Over Specific Time Period

According to the present invention it is useful to provide emissioninformation over specific time periods. This is preferred in order todemonstrate effect of compensations over time. This is also useful incontext of bookkeeping with regard to authority control.

Compensation in Context of Specific Customer Identification System

Compensation is especially preferred in context of specific customeridentification system such as card or bonus system, alternatively theidentification may be based on use of identification in context of useof credit card or bank card or other payment system involving personalidentification. Preferably the shop system such as cash register and/orSEI system is programmed to use the identification.

In alternative method the information of the need of compensation istransferred to provider of the payment system such as credit company andbank and the further provides emission compensation based on the basedon the pre-selected or programmed criteria or provides customer apossibility for compensation by providing the information to computer,internet portal or mobile device for selection of suitable compensationmeans.

It is realized that these systems may provide emission control byidentification of the customer by specific customer identification

Connections to One or Several Parts of Integrated System of PresentInvention:

The invention is directed to shop based and/or as inventive alternativefor it throughout the invention payment system based compensationsystems. It is realized that the shop/payment system based compensationsystems benefit from the following connections to preferred systemsaccording to the invention allowing effective emission control

-   -   connection to PECD systems,        -   connection to PED systems,        -   connection to PETI,

Verification of Compensation Means Verification of Compensation byVerification Information to Customer

It is realised that in order to keep customers trust compensation meansshould be easily verifiable. The verification means occur on variouslevels, which preferably includes

-   -   a) book keeping verification and    -   b) practical means for verification compensation operation.

The Book Keeping Verification

The book keeping verification means that the monetary transactions fromcustomer to service provider and possibly further to compensation meanscan be verified. The book keeping verification provides informationabout the monetary transactions in the process. The verification can beprovided as book keeping information, which can be verified by one orboth levels as follows:

-   -   a) by independent accountant reporting essential information        about the use of the monetary (or equivalent/carbon equivalent)        transactions provided    -   b) by providing the book keeping information by internet. The        preferred formats for internet information delivery are open        access or access with given pass words. When the internet        information is in open access format the identity of individual        customers is preferably protected by verification codes for each        transaction, if the customer does not specifically wish to        provide their public identification information, such as name.

The verification code is a unique string of number/letter/symbols, whichis given to the customer in context of transaction with compensation.The customer may check that the money or equivalent is correctly spentby checking the information provided with the verification code. Part ofthe code is in a preferred embodiment customer specific to facilitatethe search of transactions by a specific customer. In case verificationcode is used the computer system includes database about confidentialname/personal information and corresponding verification codes and dataabout non-confidential name/personal information, which has been allowedby the customer to be displayed in context of verification of acompensation process. The system includes preferably means for comparingidentity information from a compensation operation with the database,and when the customer has provided identification code for display incontext of compensation, the data about compensation is displayed withthe code data. It is realized that the customer may provide additionalinformation with the verification code for comparison betweenpopulations groups (region, age, sex etc., as indicated below).

It is realized that part of the customers may be willing to show theirnames and possible other identification information such as hometown andhome country/state. It is further realized, that in a preferredembodiment the personal information can be specified by adding to theinformation additional identification information. The preferredadditional information is preferably selected form the group: firstname(s) or initials, sex, age, or residence information such as hometownand/or home country and/or state, or other identity information, whichis provided by the customer to specifically identify the customer. It isrealized that personal information with names, residence and ageinformation would encourage other person to join the system. Thepreferred system includes optionally statistic about how large part ofpopulation (preferably by % figures) is participating the compensationor uses other parts of present invention to achieve the positive effect,especially with regard to green house effect. The statistic wouldoptionally also indicated how large portion of an age group, or a sex,preferably in specified regions, is using one or several parts of theinvention, preferably the compensation part.

Practical Verification of Compensation Operation

The invention is directed to verification including possibility for thecustomer to observe the compensation operation and personal compensationon practical level. The practical level compensation verificationprovides information from the practical compensation process.

In a preferred embodiment the verification information includes visualinformation from the practical level compensation operation. Thepreferred visual information includes pictures, photographs and/ormoving pictures. In a preferred embodiment moving pictures such asvideos are provided from the site of compensation. More preferably theinformation is provided on line, preferably by an Internet connection orequivalent. In a preferred embodiment the practical compensation eventor project is documented by cameras connected to internet (web-cameras)and the information is provided by the Internet to the customer.

The practical information showing the compensation preferably includesinformation about personal compensation efforts. The personalcompensation efforts are preferably shown at the site of compensation.The preferred for of showing the personal compensation include showingcustomer name or other identification information in context of showinginformation of the site of the compensation. It is realised that theverification information maybe confidential verification informationsuch as confidential verification code. The present invention preferablyshows a site of compensation and the identity information about thecustomers contributing to the site of compensation. For example site mayinclude growing trees in order to reduce carbon dioxide in atmosphereand a public display such as a plate or a sign at the site includingidentity information of the customers, preferably the trees and thedisplay are shown simultaneously by the internet connected camera to thecustomer. The process verification optionally further include providinginformation, such as localization, of the site of compensation in orderto further assure the customer that the compensation is performedproperly.

Internet Portal for Emission Control

It is realized that a data network portal is a preferred format ofemission control means by person. The internet or other data networkportal, briefly network portal, may include personal, preferably password/other identification controlled accounts, which may be used asPECD-devices according to the invention. In this format of the inventionthe customer or shop has connection to the network portal. The systemwould also contain a network connected device for accepting operationsuch as compensation operation or other operation according to theinvention or alternatively the information is collected for lateroperations, especially compensations of emissions.

It is realized that not all persons are interested for follow-up theiremissions.

Therefore in a preferred embodiment an estimation of personal emissionper specific time period, preferably longer time period, such as day,week or month, year or e.g. five years, ten years, 20 years, 30 years or50 year or estimated rest of normal life is produced, preferably year ormulti year bases. Preferred internet portal for estimate includescalculator for emission, and preferably it is used over a specific timeperiod to produce a longer term estimate, preferably most emissioncreating part of consumption are specifically estimated, such as homeheating or cooling, traffic, especially air traffic.

In a preferred simple format the customer makes compensation based onpersonal emissions for longer time such as year or many years or rest oflife bases. In a preferred system this compensation includes follow-upbased on changes in major factors effecting the emissions and connectionto state emission control. Preferably the system includes verificationmeans for the compensation according to the invention and optionally aconnection system providing information is changes in effects of varioustechnologies in personal emission for possible change of consumptionestimate by the customer and need for the compensation.

Cash Register Machines for Emission Control

It is realized that the shop-based methods according to the inventioninvolve a specific type of cash register machines, with novel technicalfeatures useful for the methods according to the invention. Theinvention is especially directed to cash register machines useful forcompensations of emissions and/or controlling the amount of personalemissions and/or providing emission information for personal emissioncontrol, preferably by a PECD system.

The invention is directed to a Cash Register Machine comprising an iconor button for adjusting the compensation level preferably at context ofpaying shoppings. The icon is preferably a position on a touch screendisplay. It is further realized that the icon may be a position on acomputer display, which can be selected by moving a cursor or equivalenton a computer display, it is further realized that the operation may beselected on a display by other means of identifying on operation by acash register machine, by system obtaining information from the personoperating the cash register system.

The invention is directed to the Cash Register Machine, wherein touchingof the icon or button provides price of compensation of the emissions ofi) a single product selected preferably on the screen, or which was thelast product or product group indicated to the cash register by productidentification such as bar code, rfid or like or ii) total shoppings.

The invention is directed to the Cash Register Machine, wherein the iconis a position on a touch screen display.

The invention is further directed to the Cash Register Machinecomprising operator such as icon or button, which accepts thecompensation operation and starts the compensation operation, preferablywith a PETI system. The display preferably further provides verificationinformation from a successful compensation operation. The preferredoperators on the display or in the machine further includes operatorsfor selecting preferred compensation program alternative such as type ofcompensation and/or preferred provider of the compensation (e.g largescale or small service provider according to the invention). In apreferred embodiment the operators are organized in hierarchy so thatthe compensation mode is selected by first operator (icon or button) andthe alternatives for compensation level and/or type of compensation aredisplayed separately, e.g as a new window) or activated on screen afteractivating the first operator.

The invention is directed to the cash register machine according to theinvention, wherein the machine comprises at least two buttons or iconsor a button and icon for adjusting the compensation level preferably atcontext of paying shoppings. The icons or buttons are together referredto as operators.

In a preferred embodiment the cash register machine comprises at leasttwo operators being button(s) and/or icons(s) which correspond todifferent levels of compensation.

The invention is further directed to a cash register machine thatcomprises at least three operators being button(s) and/or icons(s) whichcorrespond to different levels of compensation. It is realized that twoor more operators allow selecting more compensation levels e.g. as percent compensation intervals such as 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. In apreferred embodiment the cash register includes a possibility to insertspecific desired percent figure for the compensation, this may bepreformed by the person operating the cash register on request of thecustomer.

The invention is further directed to a Cash Register Machine, whichinclude a connection to

-   -   i) a database of customers desiring compensation emissions of        shopping based on preselected criteria of customer,    -   ii) means of identifying customer e.g. based on customer card or        credit card    -   iii) a program performing comparing the customer identification        and the database of customer desiring compensation of emissions        and performing the compensation operation based on the        comparison, preferably compensation is preformed by contacting a        PETI system.

The invention is further directed to a method of compensating personalgreenhouse gas emission, wherein a cash register machine according toany embodiment of invention or combination thereof is used forperforming the compensation.

The invention is directed to the compensation method according to anyaspect of the invention, wherein the cash register machine includes aconnection to at least one PETI system. The invention is furtherdirected to the compensation method according to any aspect of theinvention, wherein the cash register machine comprises a connection toat least one PECD system.

PECD Device and Display for PETI Operations

It is realized that the shop-based methods according to the inventioninvolve specific type of PECD, with novel technical features useful forthe methods according to the invention. The invention is especiallydirected to PECD useful for compensations of emissions and/orcontrolling the amount of personal emissions, especially having contactwith PETI and/or SEI systems and/or obtaining emission information forpersonal emission control, preferably from a SEI and/or PEDsystem/database. The invention is further directed to any personaldevice, preferably a mobile station for compensation of emissions,preferably for preferred product type or types, according to theinvention, the devices are referred as PECD like devices or PECD devicesincluding specific PECD devices according to the invention. It isrealized that PECD devices are useful for emission compensation evenwithout methods for accounting and controlling personal emissions.

The invention is directed to PECD comprising an icon or button foradjusting the compensation level preferably at context of payingshoppings. The icon is preferably a position on a touch screen display.It is further realized that the icon may be a position on a computer ormobile device display, which can be selected by moving a cursor orequivalent on a computer display, it is further realized that theoperation may be selected on a display by other means of identifying onoperation by PECD, by system obtaining information from the personoperating the PECD.

The invention is directed to the PECD according to the invention,wherein touching the icon or button provides price of compensation ofthe emissions of i) a single product selected preferably on the screenor display, or which was the last last product or product groupindicated to the PECD by product identification such as bar code, rfidor like or ii) total shoppings.

The invention is directed to the PECD, wherein the icon is a position ona touch screen display.

The invention is further directed to PECD comprising operator such asicon or button, which accepts the compensation operation and startscompensation operation, preferably with a PETI systems. The displaypreferably further provides verification information from successfulcompensation operation. The preferred operators on the display or in themachine further includes operators for selecting preferred compensationprogram alternative such as type of compensation and/or preferredprovider of the compensation (e.g large scale or small service provideraccording to the invention). In a preferred embodiment the operators areorganized in hierarchy so that the compensation mode is selected byfirst operator (icon or button) and the alternatives for compensationlevel and/or type of compensation are displayed separately, e.g as a newwindow) or activated on screen after activating the first operator.

The invention is directed to the PECD according to the invention,wherein the machine comprises at least two buttons or icons or a buttonand icon for adjusting the compensation level preferably at context ofpaying shoppings. The icons or buttons are together referred asoperators.

In a preferred embodiment the PECD comprises at least two operatorsbeing button(s) and/or icons(s) which correspond to different levels ofcompensation. The invention is further directed to PECD, which comprisesat least three operators being button(s) and/or icons(s) whichcorrespond to different levels of compensation. Further more theinvention is directed four and five operators for adjusting thecompensations. It is realized that two or more operators allow selectingmore compensation levels e.g. as per cent compensation intervals such as25%, 50%, 75% or 100%. In a preferred embodiment the PECD includespossibility to insert specific desired percent figure for thecompensation by the person owning and using the device. The invention isfurther directed to a program to set a standard compensation level forautomated compensation operations and option or possibility to alter thestandard levels.

The invention is further directed to a PECD, which includes followingpart or connection to these

-   -   1) database of preselected criteria of compensation level and/or        preferred compensation programs,    -   2) means of identifying customer e.g. based on customer by a        pass word    -   3) program performing compensation by contacting a PETI system.

The invention is further directed to a method of compensating personalgreenhouse gas emission, wherein a PECD according to any embodiment ofinvention or combination thereof is used for performing thecompensation.

The invention is directed to the compensation method according to anyaspect of the invention, wherein the PECD includes a connection to atleast one PETI system. The invention is further directed to thecompensation method according to any aspect of the invention, whereinthe PECD includes connection to a cash register machine and/or SEIsystem.

General Technical Aspects of Product Based Information

Certain public application describe general methods directed to productbased data handling by regular computer means and other importanttechnologies, these are included here as reference.

EP1630732 by RePay International and corresponding US paten application;by applications of Redefining Progress WO07079228 involved in companyCooler and Climatecooler (trade names/marks of Cooler company?) internetstore and Silby and Tennant US2006089851 application (possibly relatedto “CarbonCard” system). An accounting system US2006020544A1[1].

Upcode (trade name or mark) type graphical information has beendescribed by patent(s) of professor Caj Söderg{dot over (a)}rd VTTFinland (FI 981390). Patent applications of Tuulia Internationaldescribe methods for obtaining nutritional information, in preferredembodiment the present invention is directed to present methods whereinthe customer is recognized by bar code reader by the bar code reader incontext of identifying product by bar code or by a similar recognitionsystem in context of identifying products by the cash register system.

Green House Gas Reduction Methods and Standards

The present invention directed to setting daily allowance or otherpersonal emission levels or recommended levels to internationalstandards for reduction of green house gases in atmosphere in order toslow down and eventually stop green house gas emissions. The inventionespecially refer to standards set by European commission (EU) and/orUnited Nations (UN), it is realized that the recommended reductionlevels may vary, but these can be checked from the authorities.Especially preferred standard is the UN and its international climatepanel.

The present invention is in a preferred embodiment directed totransmitting or buying compensation for the emissions (by PETI means).It is realized that such compensations can be produced by multiple meansincluding: replacing fossil fuel produced energy by wind or solarenergy, by planting trees (and keeping these wood form without burningthe biomass or letting it to decay) or reducing emissions of green housegasses such as land derive methane. The methods for calculating theeffects of various actions are known in the art and included inrecommendations of preferred authorities including EU, UN and World Bankfor the emission compensation.

Portal for Communication Between a PECD Device and Cash Register SystemKey Aspects of Portal for Communication

The invention is in a preferred embodiment directed cash register systemcomprising a portal for communication with a personal mobile station forproviding product based information, preferably information aboutproduct based green house gas emissions.

The communication in the system is preferably delivered byelectromagnetic radiation and the personal mobile station is preferablya mobile phone. The portal is preferably local portal, preferablycomprising shield for localization of the information delivery and/ormeans for recognition of the personal mobile device in/or at the portal.

The preferred system comprises to a button for compensation ofemissions, as described in the invention, preferably available for thecustomer shopping goods and/or a display providing product information,preferably for the customer, and more preferably both the button and thedisplay and the preferred portal/ in the preferred system according tothe invention and preferably verification means according to theinvention.

In the preferred embodiment the system transfers the information inlocal unidirectional transfer preferably from cash register to themobile station.

The information is preferably transferred as visual information and theinformation is in the form of graphical information allowing effectivetransfer of the information in visual (transmitted by visible light)form, such as bar code information and/or Upcode-type information orequivalent, and the information is preferably transferred by means of adisplay.

In a preferred embodiment a customer identification information isprovided from mobile station to cash register system and the cashregister

-   a) provides the desired product information to the PECD, preferably    mobile device or to the personal computer of customer or provides    information about a computer network localization, from which the    customer can access the information and/or-   b) performs emission compensation operations (by PETI or equivalent)    or indicates possibility for compensation to the cash register    operator or the customer preferably by a display indicating the    possibility.

Mobile Station and Mobile Phone

In a preferred embodiment the invention is directed to the specifictechnical means, devices and methods for communication between apersonal PECD device and a cash register system. The PECD device for thecommunication is in a preferred embodiment a personal mobile station,preferably a personal electronic device with communications means, mostpreferably a mobile phone. The mobile station or mobile phone preferablyincludes a mobile payment system system such as a wap system or a mobilecredit system such as a mobile credit card system. The mobile creditcard system is e.g. a system currently in late 2007 being tested byNokia mobile phone company and VISA company and associated bank inTaiwan.

Cash Register System for Communication with the Mobile Station

The cash register system includes a cash register machine, whichincludes electronic calculation and product information processing meanssuch as cash register computer and means for communication with themobile device. The cash register system (machine) further includes meansfor identification of products by visual identification such as barcodes by a bar code reader system and/or by electronic identificationsuch as RFID. In a preferred embodiment the cash register system isconnected with at least one external computer or database involved inPETI and/or PECD and/or emission compensation. Preferably the externalcomputer or database is connected with the cash register system by acomputer network such as internet

It is realized that the background about dieting systems include someideas e.g. about smart cards, which are technically different from thepresent preferred communication means. It is further preferred in aseparate embodiment that the system uses a smart card type device asdescribed in background, in this embodiment the present inventionfurther include at least one other specific preferred aspects of presentinvention such as dual payment systems in a mobile station. Theinvention is further directed to credit cards comprising means ofcommunication preferably by electromagnetic radiation.

It is further realized that there is no regular communication meansbetween cash register systems and personal mobile devices involving thepresent preferred communication means and/or preferred light basedcommunication means.

It is further realized that there is no communication means between cashregister systems and personal mobile devices for delivery of productbased information, especially the preferred indirect information andmost preferably technical green house gas emission data prefereably inform of product based emission data as described by the invention.

The current systems especially lack the preferred portal for localdelivery of the information and means for safe delivery of theinformation such as local unidirectional transfer of the information.

Preferred Communication Means Involving Electromagnetic Radiation in theCommunication Between the Mobile Station and Cash Register System

The preferred communication means are means based on the use ofelectromagnetic radiation such as radio waves, micro waves, visible,infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) light and/or laser light. Theelectromagnetic radiation means includes regular communication by mobilephones and equivalent, infrared communication and e.g. specific bluetooth communication means. In a preferred embodiment light is used forthe communication, and even more preferably visible light.

It is realized that light based communication such as visible light canbe used for effective, practical and useful delivery of any productassociated information, preferably indirect information and mostpreferably the GHG-information according to the invention. In apreferred embodiment the product information further includes otherinformation of interest to the consumer, preferably with nutritional,ethical, or chemical information of the products.

Novel Preferred Light Based Visual Information Communication Means witha Display

It is realized that most of the regular mobile station communicationmeans include risks of harmful or unauthorized communication risks. Itis further realized most of the new mobile phones comprise a cameraallowing access to “visual information” which means graphicalinformation allowing effective transfer of the information in visual(transmitted by visible light) form, such as bar code information and/orUpcode-type information or equivalent.

The present invention is specifically directed to the obtaining andreading of the visual information by a PECD device, preferably by amobile phone, for obtaining product based information from cash registersystem.

In a preferred embodiment the cash register system (and/or the mobiledevice) provides the visual information on a display. It is realizedthat the regular visual information is in the form of printed staticform, which is not changed, while the present invention is directed todynamic visual/graphical information provided by the display. It isrealized that graphical information as one picture or as a sequence ofmultiple pictures can provide reasonable amount of product based data inshort time frame or access information for the more detailedinformation.

The present invention is preferably directed to specific “visualdisplay(s)” such as a LCD display or in another embodiment an electronicpaper type display, more preferably a LCD display or equivalent allowingpresentation of visual/graphical information, wherein the displayprovide multiple visual information pictures, preferably as bar codeinformation and/or Upcode-type information or equivalent graphicalinformation and the visual information can be read by a “reading device”such as a barcode reader and/or a camera or camera type device. LCDdisplay is a regular liquid crystal technology based display, which areused on cash register systems/machines, computers and mobile devices orequivalent thereof allowing displaying data from the electronic devicesor systems.

The invention is especially directed to systems and methods oftransferring information and the preferred systems and methods oftransferring information according to the invention, wherein the visualinformation is provided by display and read by a reading device. Theinvention is especially directed to mobile stations, preferably mobilephones comprising the reading devices and reading device is preferably abar code reader, an Upcode-type information reader and/or a camera.

The invention is especially directed to transfer of information fromcash register system to personal mobile station, preferably personalmobile station operated by customer buying good at the cash registersystem, wherein the visual information is transferred, preferably inorder to transfer product based information preferably product basedinformation according to the invention, most preferably the productbased green house gas emission information.

Methods of reading and interpreting regular graphical informationincluding bar codes and Upcode type information by mobile devices andother electronic devices are well known in the art.

Portal for the Local Delivery of the Information Local Portal

The information transmitted by the electromagnetic radiation is in apreferred embodiment provided in a local portal for local delivery ofthe information. The local portal (also referred as portal) comprisescommunication means for the transfer of the information such astransmitter of the electromagnetic radiation and/or device for obtainingof the electromagnetic radiation. In a preferred embodiment theelectromagnetic radiation delivered is visual information according tothe invention, preferably provided by a visual display. The local portalis preferably connected to cash register system and provides the productinformation or access to it according to the invention.

Shield for Localization of the Information Delivery

The portal comprises in a preferred embodiment shields, which at leastin part prevent the spreading the radiation to the surroundings. This isuseful in order to protect the privacy of the operation.

The shield(s) of the portal preferably comprises material, which theradiation does not effectively penetrate, preferably metal, morepreferably iron, shielding the portal around the communication meansfrom left and right and further preferably from down and below. Theshield are designed so that the mobile station, preferably mobile phonecan be placed between the shields for secure communication with the cashregister system by the communication means for the transfer of theinformation.

Recognition of the Presence of the Mobile Device at the Portal

In a preferred embodiment the portal includes means of recognizing thepresence of the mobile device in/at the portal. The presence may berecognized by method measuring electromagnetic radiation such as lightbeams, including visible light, UV, IR and/or laser beams at portaland/or by physical button(s) or switch(es) pressed by the customer orpreferably pressed by the mobile device when placed to the portal by thecustomer. The recognition of the customer may be also based on therecognition of the customer at the cash register machine. Thecommunication is ended, when the mobile device is removed from theportal and/or the customer leaves a designated area next to the cashregister system.

Local Portal in Connection with a Customer 'S Button and/or Display forCompensation of EmissionsCustomer's Button and/or Display

In a preferred embodiment the cash register system includes or isconnected to a button for compensation of emissions as described by theinvention, available for the customer shopping goods and/or a displayproviding product information according to the invention, preferablyinformation about green house gas emissions. When both are included thecustomer may observe the product data preferably green house gasemission data according to the invention and compensate emissions bypressing the button. The customer may be adviced to perform thecompensation before the total sum of shoppings is calculated and theprice charged, or the compensation may be charged separately andpreferably a receipt of compensation is provided. It is realized thatwhen the customer operates the compensation, the method is moreeffective and requires less attention for the cash registersystem/operator.

In a preferred embodiment the cash register system is connected to thelocal portal for delivery of the information and to a button forcompensation of emissions according to the invention, preferablyavailable for the customer shopping goods and/or a display providingproduct information, preferably for the customer, and more preferablyboth.

Local Unidirectional Transfer of the Information

The invention is in a preferred embodiment directed to localunidirectional transfer of information either from the cash registersystem to the mobile device or from the mobile device to the cashregister system. It is realized that for the security of the operationunidirectional transfer can be preferred, when there is risk of aharming communication such as computer viruses or other unauthorizedoperations. When the information delivery is unidirectional there isalso less risks of errors in communication, which would slow down theuse of the cash register system. The robustness and speed of theprocessing are of major importance for the cash register systems.

In a preferred embodiment the cash register system provides informationto the mobile device. When the cash register only provides information,there is no risk of obtaining harming or erroneous communication harmingthe cash register system or effectiveness of its operation. Theinformation provided by the cash register system preferably includeinformation about the product associated emissions and/or informationfor the access to the information in a database, preferably in a on acomputer, preferably accessible by computer network, more preferably ininternet. In another preferred embodiment

In another preferred embodiment the mobile device provides informationto the cash register system. The information may be provided through theportal according to the invention and/or by any regular means ofrecognizing mobile phones. The preferred embodiment the mobile deviceprovides identification information of the customer to the cash registersystem.

The cash register system then a) provides the desired productinformation to the PECD, preferably mobile device or to the personalcomputer of customer or provides information about a computer networklocalization, from which the customer can access the information

and/or b) performs emission compensation operations (by PETI orequivalent) or indicates possibility for compensation to the cashregister operator or the customer preferably by a display indicating thepossibility. Methods for connecting to a network by using codes such asbar code or Upcode-type communication are well-known in the art.

The local unidirectional transfer of information is preferably performedby local portal according to the invention.

Quantitative Product Mark (QPM)

The present invention is in a preferred embodiment directed to novelquantitative product marks (QPMs). The QPMs are generally useful fortransfer of quantitative information to consumers. The QPMs areespecially preferred to be used in context with integrated personalemission control systems such as the integrated system IPECS accordingto the invention and parts of it.

The invention is especially directed to the display or transmission ofquantitative product marks on PECD devices or systems, and by SEIsystems and cash register systems. It realized that the QMPs areeffective way of displaying information about the product properties, ina preferred embodiment greenhouse gas emissions.

QPM Connected to IPECS

In a preferred embodiment QMP is used as a part of IPECS. Preferably theQPM mark is normalised to Individual Product Group Information (IPGI) sothat it would give approximate emission level, for example 80%, 60%, 40%or 20% of average upper limits of a specific product type. The consumercan then calculate/obtain the emission level corresponding to theproduct type

-   -   1) manually calculating from PED data    -   2) or semi automatically by selecting the product group and        QPM-level from PECD-device, and getting data from automated        calculation operation    -   3) or by getting the data in connection of product information        from SEI system or by another product interface including bar        code and/or RFID-data obtained from shop or directly from        product package to the PECD-device.

It is further realized that the PED-data is useful for defining valuesof the QPM-type environmental marks including quantitative environmentalmarks preferably sun/cloud marks and Daily Allowance marks. It isfurther realized that other environmental and/or ethical such as labourdata may be stored like PED-data for GHG-emissions and use forQPM-presentations and interactions with corresponding integrated datasystems.

The present invention describes product marks demonstrating eitherpositive or negative properties of the product. Moreover the presentproduct marks show the property quantitatively. The quantitative aspectis important for problems, which are effectively not solved by setting asingle standard level, and giving information that a product is eithergood or bad in this respect. The quantitative property allows theconsumer to compare effects of products and make a decision based on theobservations. It will also encourage producers to compete in deliveringmore indirect benefits for the customers. For example with regard toenvironmental factors giving quantitative information would directconsumption and product development towards more environmentallyfriendly products.

To deliver the maximal amount of information, the mark should be simpleand easy to observe, remember and understand all around the world. Thedemonstrative property of the product should be based on most common andmost robust observation psychology based forms and shapes. The negativeor positive effect should be observable even by persons less welleducated or interested in the problem for which the mark is designed.

The Quantitative Effect Associated with the Mark

In a preferred embodiment the quantitative effect of the mark may bepresented by increasing the size, relative size or number of the symbolor symbols indicating a negative and/or positive effect associated withthe product. Preferred symbols in this category are cloud and sunsymbols.

In another preferred embodiment the quantitative effect is indicated bya change of a geometric shape of the mark or part of the mark. Preferredchange of the mark includes change of curvature of a bend line andoptionally straight line. In a preferred embodiment this type of sign isanalogous to human face and the line represent the mouth of the sign.Another geometric line representation is an angle mimicking aspeedometer of a car.

In a preferred embodiment the sign contains a structure or elementsindicating both the positive and negative effect of the product. In apreferred embodiment the positive effect is presented by a singlepositive sign indicating that a product is practically devoid ofproblems, and the negative effect is presented with a quantitativelyincreasing amount of negative signs. In another preferred embodiment thepresentation of negative signs includes a hint of the positive sign andmay be proportionately increased when problem associated with theproduct is decreased.

The quantitative effect may be presented exactly analogously adjustingthe change in the mark exactly relative to the value of the property ofthe product indicated. The value of the property of the product showsthe rating of the product.

The quantitative effect may be presented as categories or intervals. Thescale can be selected in various ways optimised to encourage producersto lower the problematic property associated with the product. Theproduct mark rates the product to a certain category. For example fivesymbols representing maximal problem or current average problemassociated with a product type, four symbols representing 80% of thelevel of problem, 3 symbols representing 60% of the level of theproblem, 2 symbols representing 40% of the problem and one symbolrepresenting 20% of the problem, additionally positive sign can be usedrepresenting 0% problem level associated with a product. Preferably thesymbols presenting the problem are cloud symbols, preferablyrepresenting the Climate mark indicating green house gas emission,preferably positive sing in this context is the sun symbol.Alternatively these intervals for Climate mark are represented by bothsun and cloud symbols, for example, by two cloud symbols for maximalproblem, one cloud for 80% of problem, one cloud or sun partiallycovered by one cloud for 60% of the problem, one sun symbol for 40% ofthe problem, two sun symbols for 20% of the problems and optionallythree sun marks for 0% of the problem.

With a face symbol, where about half a circled line upwards representsthe smiling mouth of a face symbol, represents a positive situationwithout the problem or an acceptably low level of problem, a half curvedline, i.e. curved less than half a circle and more than a straight linerepresents 20% of the problem, presenting a smaller smile, a straightline indicating a neutral face, presenting a level of 40% of theproblems and a slightly curved line downwards presents 60% of theproblems associated with the product, the face appearing unhappy withmouth ends pointing down, and a line of half a circle turned downwardsrepresenting 80% of the problem and a face looking very unhappy.

In case of either an exact analogous or an interval presentation of thequantitative effect, the exact value indicated, may be additionallypresented numerically preferably as a per cent value or a proportion ofthe value 1.0, most preferably as a number.

Traditional Diagrams and Marks Quantifying the Effect and Combined Use

The present invention is further directed to other more traditionalquantitative means for indicating the quantitative aspects of the mark.The traditional methods for indicating a quantitative aspect of a markincludes the use of diagrams indicating the quantitative level ofproblem associated with the problem. The diagrams may indicate the levelof the problems by bars, diagrams, or circles with sectors indicatingthe level of problem (pie diagrams). In a preferred embodiment suchtraditional means of conveying quantitative information are presentedwith a symbol indicating the problem as described by the presentinvention. Preferred symbols to be used with the traditional diagramsinclude a symbol or symbols of a Cloud mark, a Cloud-sun mark and a Sunmark and the Face mark.

Mark Level and Value

The relative amount of the problem is here called mark level, whichindicates the level reached by the product in marks showing the quantityof the problem as categories and/or intervals. The mark value is thenumeric value of the problem, preferably indicated at least with twopresenting numbers, or the mark value is presented by the demonstrativeor traditional quantitative presentation of the problem or combinationof the numeric and quantitative presentation.

Simplified Presentation on Plastic or Other Moldable Surfaces

The shape-based presentation is preferred in an embodiment becausecolours may not always be available for cost effective marking of allproducts. The shape may be presented on a plastic surface as a wholesurface shape, as a shape surface higher than the plastic surface or asa shape below a surrounding plastic surface. The shape may also bepresented as a line shape presenting the shape. On a plastic surface theline may be higher or lower in relation to the surface surrounding themark. The whole surface shape may also indicate a dark or a black markand the line shape as a white or light colour shape.

Preferred universal markings demonstrating positive and negativeindirect effects of products:

Cloud Mark/Cloud-Sun Mark Demonstrative Effects

On a psychological level most human beings do not like rain, due topossible unpleasant cold and wet feelings associated with it. A simplesymbol for this is a cloud, especially a dark cloud associated withunpleasant, stormy and/or dark weather.

Cloud Mark as Environmental Climate Mark

The Cloud mark is preferred as an environmental mark. Most preferablythe cloud mark is used as an indicator of green house gas emissions andthreat of climate change. The name of the mark is preferably the“Climate Mark” and it could also referred to as the “Cloud Mark”. Cloudsare produced by consumption of fossil fuel in factories or for exampleby traffic are known to consumers. In the case the of green houseeffect/phenomenon great changes of weather conditions including stormsare to be expected at least in certain regions of the world, increasingthe demonstrative power of the mark. Thus clouds, especially dark cloudsor black clouds, present an effective demonstrative symbol especiallyfor the green house gas emission problem. The indirect benefit ofselecting a product with as little emissions as possible indicated bythe mark would be clear and understandable for a consumer. Foradditional demonstration of the effect the mark may include a schematicpicture of a factory with a chimney delivering the emission to the sky.

Sun Mark

The Sun as a mark for positive, the opposite of the cloud, is anunderstandable symbol based on everyday change of weather from cloudy tosunny. Most persons would prefer seeing the sun instead of a dark or ablack cloud. Clouds of industrial emission may also shadow the sun inevery day experience of consumers. Therefore the sun has a demonstrativeeffect opposite to that of the green house effect.

The Marking System Including Both Sun and Clouds or a Cloud

The sun mark may be combined with the cloud mark. In a preferredembodiment the sun without the clouds can be used for indicatingsituation when there is no problem and maximum amount of benefitassociated with the product. The preferred combination includes severalclouds and a sun located on the left or the right behind a cloud. Thesign indicating a low level of problem, and thus a high level ofindirect benefit for the customer associated with the product includesonly one cloud behind which part of the sun can be seen. The signsindicating increasing amount of the problem contain increasing amount ofcloud shapes. In another combination the size of the cloud covering thesun is increased, and in another combination a larger part of the sunshape is covered by a cloud mark indicating an increased problem.

Quantitative Effect Shown by the Mark

The positive effect may be shown quantitatively by proportionallyreducing the size of the cloud, or the number of clouds, when two ormore clouds are used, or size and number of clouds. In a preferredembodiment the demonstrative effect is produced by changing the colourof the cloud from back to white, through a grey scale. A white cloudwould indicate no problem or a low level of problems and a black wouldindicate a high level of problems associated with the product. Thechange of size or number of clouds and the colour from black to whitecan be combined to increase the effect of the mark.

Additional Daily Allowance Mark

When green house gases and/or other environmental problems are measuredthe exact amount of harmful environmental effect, preferably amount ofgreen house gasses is associated with production or use of a specifiedproduct, may be presented as “daily allowance of greenhouse emission” orhere briefly daily allowance.

For material or products consumed on a daily basis the daily allowanceis preferably calculated as a relation of emission produced for a singleproduct in relation to a globally sustainable emission level per personper day calculated as relative value, preferably as per cent (%).Current estimates by UN recommend a 60% reduction of green house gasemissions. The sustainable daily emissions would then be 0.40 multipliedby total global emissions per the total number of world population perday.

The daily allowance for a product that is useful for a longer time thana day, the “long term daily allowance” is preferably be calculateddividing the daily allowance of single long term product by the numberof days the product is useful on average. The long-term daily allowancemark information should contain the period of time over which iscounted. The period of long-term daily allowance may be presented asdays or as days, months and years, when preferably a month is calculatedas 30 days and year is calculated as 360 days.

In a preferred embodiment the Daily Allowance Mark is used together withanother environmental mark, most preferably with the Cloud mark.

In another embodiment the daily emissions of a product are calculated asgrams/kilograms per product of emissions after emissions are calculatedas average green house gas, preferably as carbon dioxide, based on thescientifically evaluated effect of the various greenhouse gasses. Theweight based daily emissions are more concrete, but would requiretime-based evaluation by customer.

The Face Mark The Face Mark Used as a Labour Condition Related Mark

There is a growing concern about employment conditions in developingcountries. Problems are related to working conditions such as humanrights, safe working conditions, long working hours and salary levels,which may be very low. The global economy is developing in process wherework moves to countries were human and worker's right are less welldeveloped.

The Face mark is preferably used for indicating quality of labourconditions. The factors of working conditions and salary levels may becombined for example giving 50% weight of the relative working conditionlevel and 50% for the salary levels in comparison to the well controlledEuropean or US markets. As living costs may be lower in developingcountry the salary level factor may be adjusted to local level whenproduct is sold in the developing country. In case the mark is adjustedto a local market, the sign preferably includes the country or market towhich the mark is adjusted.

Production Methods for Producing Products which Qualify for Labellingwith the Product Mark

Production Methods for Products Qualifying for a Good Environmental Mark

The present invention is directed to production methods for productsqualifying for a good environmental mark. The methods reduce theenvironmental problem associated with the product and will thus allow abetter environmental mark. In a preferred embodiment the mark is a Cloudmark, a Sun-cloud mark or a Sun mark and the emission reduced aregreenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide emissions.

Use of Evaluation Methods According to the Present Invention

A key method to improve the rating of the mark is to evaluate theproblems in the whole production process of a product as described inthe preferred methods for evaluating for specific level or value of thespecific mark.

Reduction of Emissions in Production of Specific Products to be MarkedAccording to the Invention

Preferred method of reducing the emissions is based on the evaluationaccording to the invention. The emissions are preferably reduced firstat stages where this can be done most cost effectively. Preferredmethods include selecting raw material which involve less fossil fuelemissions, changing fossil fuel raw material to a non-fossil fuelmaterial, reducing emissions for transportation of raw material ormiddle product in the production, reducing emissions of the productionand reducing emissions of transport to market.

A Compensation Method for Improving the Rating of a Product forEnvironment Mark

Methods have been developed for trading with emissions, especiallyemissions to the atmosphere. Most developed systems deal with greenhouse gas emissions especially carbon dioxide. The trading of emissionsallows compensation of emission affecting the rating of a specificproduct.

A preferred method of compensating the emissions is based on theevaluation according to the invention. The emissions are preferablycompensated first at stages where this can be done most costeffectively. Preferred methods include compensating emissions on the rawmaterial level, on transportation levels or on the production level.

Preferred Carbon Dioxide Compensated Products Carbon Dioxide CompensatedFossil Fuels

In a specific embodiment the present invention is directed to improvingthe rating of products, which produce carbon dioxide. The presentinvention is especially directed to fossil fuel products compensated forthe carbon dioxide, which will be produced when the fuel is used. In apreferred embodiment the fossil fuel is gasoline or diesel fuel used byautomobiles. Traffic is one of the major causes of green house gasemissions but cost of compensation compared with the cost of the fuelsfor consumers are not so high. Using a European gasoline prize the costeffect of compensation is only a few per cent of the gasoline prices forconsumers even for total compensation of carbon dioxide emissions.

This compensation is only a minor fraction of taxes on Europeangasoline, most of which are environmentally motivated, but not used forimproving environmental conditions. The green house effect is the majormotivation for the taxes, if emissions are compensated there should be areason for tax deduction. The cost for compensation of one 20% level ofthe Cloud mark is only one fifth of that. In a preferred embodiment thepresent invention is directed to Compensated fuel meaning total greenhouse gas compensated or carbon dioxide compensated gasoline. Thepresent invention is further directed to selling Compensated gasoline asa method to reduce green house gas emissions. In a preferred embodimentthe present invention is directed to selling Compensated gasoline markedwith a product mark indicating the compensation of carbon dioxide or inother embodiment the total green house gas emissions. In more preferredembodiment the Compensated fuel is sold using a product mark indicatingpartial or total compensation of green house gas emissions, in anotherembodiment the mark contains a possibility to indicate regular emissionsof the fuel, compensated emissions or total compensation of emissions.In a more preferred embodiment the fossil fuel, more preferably gasolineis sold using a demonstrative and quantitative mark according to thepresent invention. Most preferably the fossil fuel is sold using apreferred environment mark according to the present invention.

Preferred process and methods for evaluating qualification in mark levelor value The invention is further directed to the preferred process andmethods for evaluating the qualification of products for the labellingwith the product mark according to the invention.

Organization Structure for Evaluating Independent Scientific EvaluationOrganization

Preferably the evaluation for a specific product mark is evaluated byindependent and scientifically qualified organization. The organizationmust be independent from commercial and political ambitions, so that theproducers and consumers can trust the evaluations are fair.

The scientific quality of the mark is ensured by including board ofinternationally recognized scientists specialized to the specificproblem. The evaluators of environment mark about green house gasemissions should include specialists about green house gas emissions,production technologies, transport and raw materials.

Open Process

In a preferred embodiment the numbers of the evaluations process or partof the number of the evaluation process are available for the generalpublic. This may be needed to be limited to business secret typeinformation of the producers, on the other hand when only values of theproblem, in the environmental mark embodiment the numeric values ofemissions, are included without process information, not much secretsare revealed. Most preferably at least all the mathematic formulas usedin counting of the ratings (values and/levels) in the quantitativeenvironmental marks are available to the general public and industryallowing discussion about the method and potential development of theprocess.

Non-Profit Organization

In a preferred embodiment the organization for the evaluation of a markis a non-profit organization. The non-profit status may include apossibility to collect reasonable funds for ensuring the continuation ofthe operations and even advertising the mark. Preferably the evaluationorganization reveals it funding and economics to the general public andindustries so that the independent nature of the organization can beensured.

Preferably the non-profit organization should be associated withinternational authorities in the problem indicated by the mark. In apreferred embodiment the organization evaluating the green house gasmark is associated with UN-efforts to control green house gas emissions.

Method for Obtaining Additional Indirect Benefit

by Licensing this Method to Preferred Organization Structure

The invention is further directed to a business method to obtainindirect benefit by licensing the methods to the non-profit organizationwithout requiring profit. The indirect profit of the method would cometo the inventor by inventing other problem relieving, preferablyenvironmental friendly, technologies which would benefit in the marketwhere consumer uses a mark or marks according to the invention.

Buying or Shopping Method Using PECD for Compensation of QuantitativeProduct Based GHG Emissions

The invention is further directed to the corresponding green housegas-compensation transaction process (GHG-transaction) process andmethod of buying by PECD including steps:

1) contacting the selling device in PETI system 2) transfer ofinformation about the amount of greenhouse gas equivalents needed to becompensated from PECD to PETI, 3) adding the amount of equivalents to acompensation account in PETI, 4) transfer of verification data of thecompensation by PETI to PECD, 5) at PETI adding the information forbilling information of PECD customer for sending bill for theequivalents, or sending request for electronic monetary payment bystandard electronic payment process 6) at PECD reducing the amount ofcompensated units from the account for compensation or from CumulativeBalance Account at PECD.

The invention is directed to method for buying and process for buying byPECD involving compensation of quantitative product based greenhouse gasemission by PETI system comprising steps of

-   -   1) contacting the selling device in PETI system by the PECD        system    -   2) transfer of information about the amount of greenhouse gas        equivalents needed to be compensated from PECD to PETI,    -   3) in process of 5a) adding the amount of equivalents needed to        be compensated to a compensation account in PETI,    -   4) optional in process involving transfer of verification data        of the compensation by PETI to PECD in process of 5a) and        reducing the amount of compensated units from the account for        compensation or from Cumulative Balance Account at PECD,    -   5) at PETI        -   5a) adding the information for billing information of PECD            customer for sending bill for the equivalents, or        -   5b) sending request for electronic monetary payment by            standard electronic payment process        -   6b) optional electronic payment in process according to 5b            and verification of the payment        -   at PETI preferably information obtained from bank, adding            the amount of equivalents needed to be compensated to a            compensation account in PETI and optional sending            verification of compensation to        -   7b) at PECD reducing the amount of compensated units from            the account for compensation or from Cumulative Balance            Account at PECD.

The invention is directed to two processes based on account and possiblecredit for customer in process or method comprising 5a) or alternativeprocess or method of 5b-7b) involving electronic payment.

Contacting PETI Device

The PETI system comprises interface or selling device, which iscontacted by the PECD system. The PETI system recognizes and identifiesPECD system by standard security means including unique identifierand/or pass word provided by PETI system. It is realized that theidentification may in specific embodiment include manual identificationby providing password by the user of the PECD. In a separate embodimentthe invention is directed to the use of personal unique identifiers ofPECD devices such as personal computers or personal computer interfacesor mobile station identifiers such as mobile phone identifiers foridentification in the transaction. Specific standards used for mobilemonetary transaction such as in WAP-systems can be used.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Examples feasibility of reducing emissions related to use of a product,when the use yield green house gas emissions. Cost of compensating allemissions of gasoline use.

At current price of carbon dioxide ton is about 10 Euros, pricesaccording to reports. The price of gasoline in Finland is about 1.1Euro, which is the regular price in Europe. In USA a gallon of gasolinecosts about 1 Euro.

Calculation of production carbon dioxide from one kg of gasolineestimated as octane:

C₈H₁₈+12,5O₂→8CO₂+9H₂O

One mole octane yield eight mole of carbon dioxide, so considering themolar weights about 114 grams of octane yields 352 g of carbon dioxide.

The density of gasoline is about 0.71 g/ml, thus 114 g of gasoline hasvolume of 160.1 ml, thus 1.0 litres of gasoline would yield 2200 gramsof carbon dioxide. With the price of 0.010 Euro per kg the price ofcompensating the emission would be 2.2 cents which is 2% of the price ofthe product. Cost of reducing the use based emissions by 40% would costabout 0.9 cents, by 60% about 1.3 cents and by 80% would cost about 1.8cents, and complete reduction 2.2 cents. The products indicated byspecific use based Climate marks would not cost substantially more thanthe regular product but show substantial benefit of the product inreducing the problem of the green house effect. The producers may chooseto improve their product directly to a certain level and offer betteroptions for consumers.

In USA the price per gasoline is about one fifth or fourth of Europeanprices and the costs of reduction would be 4-5 times higher but stillthe complete level of compensating the emission would cost only about10% of the price of the product and marks indicating partial reductionwould be useful showing clear benefit with quite reasonable prices.

More than half of the European price consists of various taxes, part ofwhich are environmentally based but are not directed to reducing themajor environmental problem.

Example 2 Electronic Transaction, Use of a PECD Device

A PECD is included in an electronic payment system comprising a specificaccount for greenhouse gas equivalents, analogous to an account formoney equivalents is used for a transaction in connection with apurchase of a product. A GHG-transaction process includes 1) contactingthe selling device in PETI system 2) transfer of information about theamount of greenhouse gas equivalents needed to be compensated from PECDto PETI, 3) adding the amount of equivalents to a compensation accountin PETI, 4) transfer of verification data of the compensation by PETI toPECD, 5) at PETI adding the information for billing information of PECDcustomer for sending bill for the equivalents, or sending request forelectronic monetary payment by standard electronic payment process 6) atPECD reducing the amount of compensated units from the account forcompensation or from Cumulative Balance Account at PECD. The process atPETI further involves buying a corresponding amount of emission rightsor like from compensation producers (APLCP and/SCP), and involvespossible electronic monetary payment by PECD or other form of payment bya customer. The process may include an optional pre-step of inquiringthe price of compensated amount by PECD and answer by PETI. A preferredpayment system is a cell phone operated WAP-system.

Example 3

Example of a Emission balance calculation by Calculator part of PECD: aconsumer buys two products, with Daily Allowance % (DA %) values of 5%and 9% with use time one day and one product with using time of twoweeks and value of 28%, and one product with using time of one month andvalue of 90%. In case mode of dividing larger the amounts daily basis:the Emission Balance will be 100−5−9−2−3=81% and the Emission balance offollowing 13 days will be reduced by 5% and on days 14-30 by 3%.Alternatively consumer may choose mode of compensating automatically ormanually selected larger or multi day DA % values such as e.g. the 9%and 28% emission by transfer these to CBA (cumulative balance account)or to PETI system. In such case the on line Emission Balance will be86%. In yet another alternative mode the consumer takes all the DA %values to the account and Emission Balance will be 100−5−9−28−90=−68%.The negative balance may be chosen manually or automatically to betransferred to CBA for possible balancing from next/following daysremaining DA % values or transferred to PETI system for compensation.

Example 4

A person collects shoppings from a consumer goods store. In context ofpayment the operator of cash register machine asks if the customer wouldlike to compensate the greenhouse gas emission of the shoppings (orother indirect property of shoppings). The customer says that he (orshe) would like to compensate 75% of the emissions. The cash registeroperator selects compensation on icon of cash register display andanother icon for compensation level. The cash register system calculatesthe price of compensation based on information of product-basedemissions from PED database and price of the emission based on a pricingof a compensation program used. The price of compensation is added toprice of shoppings and the customer pays the price.

Example 5

Person collects shoppings from a consumer goods store. In context ofpayment the cash register machine/system recognizes the customer basedidentification from customer card, credit card or like or by informationsend by a PECD system, and compares the identification to database ofcustomer who would like to compensate the greenhouse gas emission of theshoppings (or other indirect property of shoppings). The customer isrecognized as wishing specific level of compensation. The cash registersystem calculates the price of compensation based on information ofproduct-based emissions from PED database and price of the emissionbased on a pricing of a compensation program/service used. The price ofcompensation is added to price of shoppings and the customer pays theprice. The compensation is performed by cash register system bycontacting PETI.

Alternatively the cash register does not add the compensation to theprice but provides the information of specific compensation need toPECD, which preferably performs compensation with PETI system and/orcollects data for personal emission control.

1.-56. (canceled)
 57. A system for obtaining information about indirectproperty of a product, and/or for controlling greenhouse effectcomprising a personal PECD-device containing i. an account forcumulative balance for the information about the indirect property; ii.a PED database in PECD-device and/or means for contacting an externalPED, the PED database containing information about the indirect propertynormalized per product unit; iii. means for calculating cumulativebalance values about the indirect property and iv. an optional externalPED-database, optionally the system further comprises connections toone, two or three of systems selected from the group of i. a shopemission interface SEI, for obtaining electronic information about aproduct identity or PED data, and/or ii. a personal emission tradeinterface (PETI) for compensation of the indirect effect iii. other PECDdevices, optionally in the same household, and wherein the systemcomprises at least one property selected from a group a) verificationmeans or code or further verification means; b) means for electronicshopping and the system is programmed to perform automated or semiautomated shopping; c) a personal PECD-device, which is virtual deviceor account, which is located in a shop computer or SEI system or inanother shop based computer; or a PECD system, wherein the PECD systemis a virtual device located in an internet portal or computer networkportal; d) an integrated system, which provides public information aboutthe users, which is data about non-confidential name/personalinformation, which has been allowed by the customer to be displayedpublicly; e) system or device being a cash register machine comprisingan icon or button for adjusting the compensation level; f) cash registersystem comprising a portal for communication with a personal mobilestation for providing product based information, preferably informationabout product based green house gas emissions.
 58. The system accordingto claim 57, for controlling greenhouse effect by transferringinformation about product associated green house gas emissions of aproduct comprising a personal PECD-device, which is a personal mobilestation or internet portal comprising i. an account for cumulativebalance for the emission information about the product based green housegas emission data; ii. a PED database in PECD-device and/or means forcontacting an external PED, the PED database containing informationabout the green house gas emissions normalized per product unit; iii.means for calculating cumulative balance values about the indirectproperty and iv. an optional external PED-database, optionally, whereinthe green house gas emission data is i) the amount of green housephenomenon causing gasses is presented as equivalents of carbon dioxideand ii) the data is represented on a display as part or proportion of adaily allowance, wherein the daily allowance is calculated as a relationof emission produced for a single product in relation to a globallysustainable emission level per person per day calculated as a relativevalue, optionally as percent.
 59. The system according to claim 58,wherein the system further comprises connections to one, two or three ofsystems selected from the group of i. a shop emission interface SEI, forobtaining electronic information about a product identity or PED data,and/or ii. a personal emission trade interface (PETI) for compensationof the product associated greenhouse gas emissions iii. other PECDdevices, optionally in the same household.
 60. The system forcontrolling greenhouse effect according to claim 58, wherein the greenhouse gas emission data is a) the amount of green house phenomenoncausing gasses is presented as equivalents of carbon dioxide and b) thedata is represented on a display as part or proportion of a dailyallowance, wherein the daily allowance is the amount of emission perperson which does not lead to increase of greenhouse effect, optionallyfurther comprising connections to one, two or three of systems selectedfrom the group of i. a shop emission interface SEI, for obtainingelectronic information about a product identity or PED data, and/or ii.a personal emission trade interface (PETI) for compensation of theproduct associated greenhouse gas emissions iii. other PECD devices,optionally in the same household.
 61. The system according to claim 60,wherein the system includes shop emission interface, and the systemobtains product identity information and/or product associated emissioninformation from SEI, and optionally wherein the SEI system providesgreenhouse gas emission information about the product bought in contextof buying and optionally wherein the PECD obtains comparative emissiondata from alternative products from SEI.
 62. The system according toclaim 60, wherein the system includes PETI system, and optionallywherein the system includes shop emission interface, and the systemobtains product identity information and/or product associated emissioninformation from SEI, and/or optionally, wherein the SEI system providesgreenhouse gas emission information about the product bought in contextof buying and optionally wherein the PECD obtains comparative emissiondata from alternative products from SEI.
 63. The system according to theclaim 62, wherein the system involves compensation of product associatedemissions in PETI system, wherein the carbon dioxide units are sold byPETI system to consumers using the PECD system for compensation of Dailyallowance or Cumulated Balance needs, or wherein the system isprogrammed to communicate with other PECD devices and it is used foremission trading and/or allocation between emission balances of personsin the same family or household, optionally wherein i) SEI is a cashregister system and ii) SELI perform the compensation of thequantitative product associated green house gas emission select desiredcompensation level based on pre-selected criteria iii) SEI uses specificcustomer identification system such as card or bonus system, or use ofidentification in context of use of credit card or bank card or otherpayment system involving personal identification, or iv) the informationof the need of compensation is transferred from SEI to provider of thepayment system such as credit company and bank and the further providesemission compensation based on the based on the preselected orprogrammed criteria or provides customer a possibility for compensationby providing the information to computer, internet portal or mobiledevice for selection of suitable compensation means.
 64. The systemaccording to claim 57, wherein the system further includes i)verification means by providing the book keeping information by internetin open access form, and ii) identity of individual customers isprotected by verification codes for each transaction, and iii) theverification code is a unique string of number/letter/symbols, which isgiven to the customer in context of transaction with compensation, andiv) customer may check that the money or equivalent is correctly spentby checking the information provided with the verification code.
 65. Thesystem according to claim 57, wherein the system further includesfurther verification method selected from the group: verification methodwherein the practical compensation event or project is documented bycameras connected to internet (web-cameras) and the information isprovided by internet to customer; verification method wherein the systemfurther includes further verification of compensation by displayingpublicly book keeping information on the internet; verification methodwherein the system further includes further verification of compensationby displaying publicly book keeping information on the internet andwherein the internet information is in open access format the identityof individual customers is optionally protected by verification codesfor each transaction, if the customer does not specifically wish toprovide their public identification information, such as name.
 66. Thesystem according to claim 57, wherein the system comprises PETI forcompensation of the product associated greenhouse gas emissions andmeans for electronic shopping and the system is programmed to performautomated or semi automated shopping based on preset criteria aboutindirect property and optionally other criteria such as price of theproduct.
 67. The system according to the claim 57, for controllinggreenhouse effect by transferring information about product associatedgreen house gas emissions of a product comprising a personal PECD-deviceis virtual device or account, which is located in a shop computer or SEIsystem or in another shop based computer comprising i. an account forcumulative balance for the emission information about the product basedgreen house gas emission data; ii. a PED database in PECD-device and/ormeans for contacting an external PED, the PED database containinginformation about the green house gas emissions normalized per productunit; iii. means for calculating cumulative balance values about theindirect property and iv. an optional external PED-database and the datais represented as a normalized comparable value per product bases,optionally wherein the green house gas emission data is a) the amount ofgreen house phenomenon causing gasses is presented as equivalents ofcarbon dioxide and b) the data is represented on a display as part orproportion of a daily allowance, wherein the daily allowance is theamount of emission per person which does not lead to increase ofgreenhouse effect, and optionally wherein the system includes PETIsystem or connection to the PETI system, and/or optionally wherein SEIcomprising PECD is a cash register system or another shop computersystem connected to cash register system, and further optionally the SEIsystem operates including following: the system obtains product identityinformation and/or product associated emission information from SEI, andoptionally wherein the SEI system provides greenhouse gas emissioninformation about the product bought in context of buying and optionallywherein the PECD obtains comparative emission data from alternativeproducts from SEI; or i) SELI perform the compensation of thequantitative product associated green house gas emission select desiredcompensation level based on pre-selected criteria ii) SEI uses specificcustomer identification system such as card or bonus system, or use ofidentification in context of use of credit card or bank card or otherpayment system involving personal identification, or iii) theinformation of the need of compensation is transferred from SEI toprovider of the payment system such as credit company and bank and thefurther provides emission compensation based on the based on thepreselected or programmed criteria or provides customer a possibilityfor compensation by providing the information to computer, internetportal or mobile device for selection of suitable compensation means.68. An integrated system or device selected from the group: i. a PECDsystem, wherein the PECD system is a virtual device located in aninternet portal or computer network portal, optionally wherein thesystem comprises personal, optionally pass word/other identificationcontrolled accounts, which are used as PECD-devices, ii. an integratedsystem as described in claim 1, for controlling greenhouse gas emissioncomprising PECD, or SEI or PETI, which provides public information aboutthe users, which is data about non-confidential name/personalinformation, which has been allowed by the customer to be displayedpublicly, optionally in context of verification of a compensationprocess or otherwise as a reference of the system, optionally, whereinthe information is selected form the group: first name(s) or initials,sex, age, or residence information such as hometown and/or home countryand/or state, or other identity information, which is provided by thecustomer to specifically identify the customer, and/or optionally,wherein the system provides statistic about how large part of population(optionally by % figures) is participating the compensation or uses PECDoptionally the statistic would optionally also indicated how largeportion of an age group, or a sex, optionally in specified regions, iii.a cash register machine comprising an icon or button for adjusting thecompensation level optionally at context of paying shoppings, iv. a cashregister machine, which include connection to 1) databases of customersdesiring compensation emissions of shopping based on preselectedcriteria of customer, 2) means of identifying customer e.g. based oncustomer card or credit card 3) program performing comparing thecustomer identification and the database of customer desiringcompensation of emissions and performing the compensation operationbased on the comparision, optionally compensation is preformed bycontacting a PETI system v. a PECD or equivalent device comprising atleast one operator, optionally an icon or button, for adjusting thecompensation level optionally at context of paying shoppings, vi. a PECDor equivalent device, which include connection to a) database ofpreselected criteria of compensation level and/or preferred compensationprograms, b) means of identifying customer e.g. based on customer by apass word c) program performing compensation by contacting a PETIsystem, vii. a cash register system comprising a portal forcommunication with a personal mobile station for providing product basedinformation, preferably information about product based green house gasemissions.
 69. The system or device according to the claim 68, being acash register machine comprising an icon or button for adjusting thecompensation level optionally at context of paying shoppings, whereinoptionally the icon is a position on a touch screen display, andoptionally, wherein touching the icon or button provides price ofcompensation of the emissions of i) a single product selected optionallyon the screen, or which was last indicated to the cash register byproduct identification such as bar code, rfid or like or ii) totalshoppings, and/or optionally, wherein the cash register machinecomprises at least two buttons or icons or a button and icon foradjusting the compensation level optionally at context of payingshoppings, and/or optionally, wherein the cash register machinecomprises at least two buttons or icons or a button and icon foradjusting the compensation level optionally at context of payingshoppings and wherein the cash register machine comprises at least twooperators being button(s) and/or icons(s) which correspond to differentlevels of compensation, and/or optionally, wherein the cash registermachine comprises at least two buttons or icons or a button and icon foradjusting the compensation level optionally at context of payingshoppings and wherein the cash register machine comprises at least threeoperators being button(s) and/or icons(s) which correspond to differentlevels of compensation, comprising at least three of said operatorswhich correspond to different levels of compensation.
 70. The system ordevice according to claim 68, being a PECD or equivalent devicecomprising at least one operator, optionally an icon or button, foradjusting the compensation level optionally at context of payingshoppings, and/or optionally, wherein the icon is a position on a touchscreen display, and/or optionally, wherein touching the icon or buttonprovides price of compensation of the emissions of i) a single productselected optionally on the screen, or which was last indicated to thecash register by product indentification such as bar code, rfid or likeor ii) total shoppings, and/or optionally, wherein the PECD comprises atleast two buttons or icons or a button and icon for adjusting thecompensation level and/or program optionally at context of payingshoppings and/or optionally, wherein the PECD device comprises at leasttwo operators being button(s) and/or icons(s) which correspond todifferent levels of compensation, and/or optionally, wherein the PECDdevice comprises at least three of said operators which correspond todifferent levels of compensation.
 71. The PECD device or system or SEIsystem according to claim 68, displaying product based emission data inform of quantitative product mark.
 72. A method of compensating personalgreenhouse gas emission by using a PECD device or cash register machineas described in the claim 68 is used for performing the compensationand/or method to involving use of said PECD system for a period of timein order to analyze longer-term emissions of a person.
 73. The method toinvolving use of a PECD system according to claim 72, for a period oftime in order to analyze longer-term emissions of a person, andoptionally wherein the emissions are compensated over a longer time,optionally the longer term is per specific time period, optionallylonger time period, such as day, week or month, year or e.g. five years,ten years, 20 years, 30 years or 50 year or estimated rest of normallife of the person and compensation of the emission for the selectedlonger time optionally by a PETI system, optionally any PETI system withlonger period.
 74. The method of compensating personal greenhouse gasemission according to the claim 72, wherein a PECD is used forperforming the compensation, wherein the PECD include connection to atleast one PETI system, and/or wherein the PECD include connection to acash register machine and/SEI system.
 75. The method of compensatingpersonal greenhouse gas emission according to the claim 72, wherein acash register machine is used for performing the compensation, whereinthe cash register machine include connection to at least one PETI systemand optionally wherein the cash register machine include connection toat least one PECD system.
 76. The system according to the claim 57,being a cash register system comprising a portal for communication witha personal mobile station for providing product based information,preferably information about product based green house gas emissionsand/or optionally wherein the communication is delivered byelectromagnetic radiation, preferably by light including visible,infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) light and/or laser light and mostpreferably by visible light, and/or optionally wherein the personalmobile station is a mobile phone, and/or optionally wherein the portalis local portal, preferably comprising shield for localization of theinformation delivery and/or means for recognition of the personal mobiledevice in/or at the portal, and/or optionally wherein the systemcomprises to a button for compensation of emissions, as described in anyof the claims, preferably available for the customer shopping goodsand/or a display providing product information, preferably for thecustomer, and more preferably both the button and the display, and/oroptionally wherein the system transfers the information in localunidirectional transfer preferably from cash register to the mobilestation, and/or optionally wherein the information is transferred asvisual information and the information is in the form of graphicalinformation allowing effective transfer of the information in visual(transmitted by visible light) form, such as bar code information and/orUpcode-type information or equivalent, and the information is preferablytransferred by means of a display, and/or optionally whereinidentification information is provided from mobile station to cashregister system and the cash register i. provides the desired productinformation to the PECD, preferably mobile device or to the personalcomputer of customer or provides information about a computer networklocalization, from which the customer can access the information and/orperforms emission compensation operations (by PETI or equivalent) orindicates possibility for compensation to the cash register operator orthe customer preferably by a display indicating the possibility.